Photo Credit; Getty Images
Spain is mourning after a high-speed train derailment and collision in the south of the country killed at least 39 people and injured more than 120 others, in what authorities have described as the worst rail disaster in more than a decade.
The crash occurred on Sunday evening near the town of Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, when a Madrid-bound train derailed on a straight section of track and crossed onto the opposite line, colliding with an oncoming service travelling in the opposite direction. Around 400 passengers and crew were on board the two trains combined, according to rail operators.
Emergency services said 122 people were treated for injuries, with 48 remaining in hospital, including 12 in intensive care. Among those hospitalised were several children. Spain's transport minister, Óscar Puente, warned that the death toll was not yet final as rescue and identification efforts continued.
Puente described the incident as "extremely unusual", saying experts consulted by the government were struggling to understand how the crash occurred on a modernised section of track. An official investigation has been launched, though authorities said it could take weeks before definitive conclusions are reached.
The derailment happened at about 7:45pm local time, roughly an hour after the train departed Málaga for Madrid. The force of the impact pushed several carriages into an embankment, leaving twisted metal and overturned coaches that complicated rescue operations. Firefighters said some victims had to be removed to reach survivors trapped inside.
Passengers described scenes of panic and confusion. One journalist on board said the impact felt "like an earthquake", while another survivor recalled screams and calls for medical help as people tried to escape through windows and damaged doors.
All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the crash, disrupting travel across a major transport corridor linking cities such as Seville, Córdoba and Málaga. Temporary medical posts were set up near the site, and counselling services were offered to families awaiting news.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain faced a "night of deep pain", while King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia expressed condolences to the victims' families. Messages of sympathy also came from European leaders.
Spain has one of the world's largest high-speed rail networks, spanning more than 4,000 kilometres. The last accident of comparable scale occurred in 2013, when a derailment in north-western Spain killed 80 people.
