HIGH-SPEED TRAIN DERAILMENT IN SOUTHERN SPAIN KILLS 39, INJURES OVER 120
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The crash happened on Sunday evening when a train operated by rail company Iryo travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, crossing onto the other track where it crashed into an oncoming train, which also derailed. (Photo by Handout / Guardia Civil / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 29, 2026 09:42:22 GMT – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / GUARDIA CIVIL” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
At least 39 people have been killed and more than 120 injured after a high-speed train derailed and collided with another in southern Spain, authorities confirmed on Monday. The accident, described as the country’s worst rail disaster in over a decade, occurred near Adamuz in Andalusia on Sunday evening.
The train, operated by Iryo and travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed on a straight section of track and crossed onto the opposite line, colliding with an oncoming train bound for Huelva, which also derailed.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente described the crash as “extremely strange” and said the death toll was “not definitive” and could rise. He expressed gratitude to rescue teams for their work under difficult circumstances.
The Interior Ministry reported that around 123 people were injured, including five critically and 24 seriously.
Unlike the 2013 Santiago de Compostela disaster, which occurred on a curved section of track, this derailment took place on newly renovated straight tracks. Puente noted that the Iryo train involved was “practically new,” further complicating explanations for the incident.
Iryo confirmed that its locomotive was built in 2022 and last inspected on January 15. The company said the train “veered onto the adjacent track for still unknown reasons” and that about 300 passengers were on board. Renfe, operator of the second train, has not disclosed the number of passengers.
Spain operates Europe’s largest high-speed rail network, with over 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) of dedicated track linking major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Malaga.
Emergency teams faced extreme challenges freeing passengers trapped in twisted carriages. Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Córdoba, told RTVE, “The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside. We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.”
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences. A passenger on the second train, identified only as Montse, said the carriage jolted violently and came to a complete stop, leaving passengers thrown around and luggage tumbling. She added, “The attendant behind me hit her head and was bleeding. There were children crying. Luckily, I was in the last car. I feel like I was given a second chance at life.”
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Lucas Meriako, a passenger on the Iryo train, described the crash as “like a horror movie,” adding that passengers experienced a strong impact and glass-related injuries.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the site of the disaster. He described the incident as “a night of deep pain for our country” and expressed sympathy for the victims.
The royal family, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, expressed concern and offered condolences to the bereaved, wishing a swift recovery to the injured. International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also conveyed their sympathies.
Investigations into the cause of the derailment are ongoing, with rail experts expressing surprise at the incident due to the newness of the train and the straight section of track where the crash occurred.
The crash happened on Sunday evening when a train operated by rail company Iryo travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, crossing onto the other track where it crashed into an oncoming train, which also derailed. (Photo by Handout / Guardia Civil / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 29, 2026 09:42:22 GMT – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / GUARDIA CIVIL” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
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