Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Spain Train Crashes Kill Dozens
Three serious train accidents happened in Spain within days of each other.
The first was a high-speed train crash in the south that killed 42 people.
A 6-year-old girl survived this crash and is now staying with her grandparents.
The second crash happened near Barcelona when a storm caused a wall to fall onto the train tracks, killing one person and injuring 37.
The third crash occurred in Cartagena when a commuter train hit a construction crane, injuring several people, including one seriously.
The king and queen visited the sites to support the victims.
People are worried about train safety in Spain, and the government is trying to find out what caused these accidents.
A high-speed train collision in Punta Umbria, Cordoba region, killed 42 people and injured many on January 18, 2026.
A 6-year-old girl survived the crash, escaping through a shattered window and suffering only a minor head injury.
The girl lost her parents, brother, and cousin in the crash, with the front carriages absorbing the strongest impact.
A commuter train near Barcelona crashed into a collapsed retaining wall on January 21, 2026, killing one and injuring 37.
A commuter train in Cartagena, Murcia region, crashed into a construction crane on January 22, 2026, injuring several people, including one seriously.
- Who
- Passengers on three separate train incidents in Spain
- What
- Three train crashes: one due to a high-speed collision, one due to a collapsed retaining wall, and one due to a collision with a construction crane
- When
- January 18, January 21, and January 22, 2026
- Where
- Punta Umbria, Cordoba region; Gelida, near Barcelona; and Cartagena, Murcia region, Spain
- Why
- The first crash's cause is still under investigation; the second was caused by a storm-induced retaining wall collapse; the third was due to a collision with a construction crane
Government and Safety Advocates
Transport Ministry
Cause of Crashes
Government and Safety Advocates
Government and safety advocates are calling for immediate investigations into infrastructure maintenance and safety protocols, suggesting potential negligence or oversight.
Transport Ministry
The Transport Ministry emphasizes that the trains and infrastructure were relatively new and that the cause of the collision is still under investigation, with no definitive evidence of negligence.
- Location 1
- Gelida, 40 km west of Barcelona
- Date 1
- January 21, 2026
- Casualties 1
- 1 killed, 37 injured (5 seriously)
- Cause 1
- Retaining wall collapse due to storm
- Location 2
- Punta Umbria, Cordoba region, Spain
- Date 2
- January 18, 2026
- Casualties 2
- 42 killed, many injured
- Survivor
- 6-year-old girl, minor head injury
- Investigation Status
- Ongoing, cause not yet determined
- Location 3
- Cartagena, Murcia region, Spain
- Date 3
- January 22, 2026
- Casualties 3
- Several injured, one seriously
- Cause 3
- Collision with construction crane
Sources
Barcelona train crash kills 1 in Spain's second deadly rail accident in days
Barcelona commuter train crash kills many, injures several after wall collapses on tracks - Telegraph India
Miracle survival: 6-year-old escapes deadly Spain train crash that killed her family
Spanish train drivers call for strike after deadly derailments
Social Media Mobilise To Find Boro, A Dog Who Survived Spain's Train Crash
Part found near Spain train crash site may be missing undercarriage, experts say
Spanish train drivers call three-day strike after deadly derailments
Train crashes against crane in southeastern Spain, TVE reports
Train crashes into crane in southeastern Spain, several lightly injured
