7 months ago
Spain Train Collision Death Toll Rises
Two high-speed trains in Spain had a very bad accident.
One train going from Málaga to Madrid came off its track and hit another train going from Madrid to Huelva.
This happened near a place called Adamuz.
At least 39 people died, and around 159 others were hurt, with 12 of them in critical condition.
The trains are not running between Madrid and Andalusia right now because of the accident.
People are helping the injured passengers, and a reception centre has been set up in Adamuz.
The company that runs the trains, Iryo, has not said anything about what happened yet.
The government and emergency services are working to help the passengers and their families.
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, said the country will find out what caused the accident and announced three days of national mourning.
At least 39 people have died in a high-speed train collision in southern Spain, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue teams continue to search the wreckage.
The crash occurred on January 18, 2026, near Adamuz, in the Cordoba region, when a train from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided with an oncoming train from Madrid to Huelva.
All survivors were rescued by Monday morning, but recovery efforts continue, with DNA testing being used to identify some victims.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced three days of national mourning and promised a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash.
Passengers and emergency responders described the scene as harrowing, with twisted metal and overturned carriages, and some victims found hundreds of meters from the site.
- Who
- Passengers on two high-speed trains, emergency services, government officials, and local residents
- What
- Two high-speed trains derailed and collided
- Where
- Near Adamuz, Cordoba province, southern Spain
- When
- January 18, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. (1740 GMT)
- Why
- The cause of the derailment is not yet known, with possible mechanical or infrastructure failure cited
Key facts
- Location
- Near Adamuz, Cordoba province, southern Spain
- Time
- 6:40 p.m. (1740 GMT) on January 18, 2026
- Operator
- Adif (state-run rail network operator)
- Trains Involved
- Iryo 6189 (Málaga to Madrid) and Renfe (Madrid to Huelva)
- Casualties
- At least 39 people killed, 159 injured (12 in critical condition)
- Emergency Response
- All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia suspended, ambulances and emergency vehicles dispatched, reception centre set up in Adamuz
- Operator Comment
- Iryo (Italian-run private rail operator) has not commented, Renfe did not respond to requests for comment
- Passenger Count
- Around 300 passengers on the Iryo train, around 100 on the Renfe train
- Weather Conditions
- Nighttime temperatures around 42 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius)
- National Mourning
- Three days of national mourning announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez
Timeline
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Quotes
Ana Garcia Aranda
A 26-year-old passenger being treated at a Red Cross centre in Adamuz.
“"The train tipped to one side… then everything went dark, and all I heard was screams."”
firstpost.com
“"There were people who were fine and others who were very, very badly injured… you knew they were going to die, and you couldn’t do anything."”
firstpost.com
Iñigo Vila
National emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross.
“"The collision occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region accessible only by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to reach the area."”
firstpost.com
Ignacio Barron
Head of Spain’s Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF).
“"What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently (looking into)."”
firstpost.com
Paqui
An Adamuz resident who helped rescue survivors.
“"He found a dead child inside, another child calling for his mother. You’re never ready to see something like this."”
firstpost.com
Álvaro Fernandez Heredia
President of Renfe, the Spanish national railway company.
“"It was too early to talk about the cause, but it happened in 'strange conditions,' Fernandez Heredia said, adding that human error was virtually ruled out."”
firstpost.com
Sources
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