Spain train crash latest: At least 39 dead and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collide
Madrid-bound train derailed on a straight stretch of track, before being hit head-on by another locomotive travelling 200kmph in the opposite direction
At least 39 people have been killed after a high-speed train derailed and crashed into an oncoming train, pushing it off the tracks, in Spain on Sunday.
There were around 400 passengers on board the two trains and dozens were injured in the incident. Of the 75 people hospitalised, 15 remained in serious condition, officials said early on Monday.
The driver of one of the trains, which was travelling from Madrid to Huelva, was among those who died.
"The Iryo 6189 Malaga - (to Madrid) train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train which was travelling on the adjacent track has also derailed," said Adif, which runs the rail network, in a social media post.
Adif said the accident happened at 6.40pm local time, about 10 minutes after the Iryo train left Cordoba heading towards Madrid.
Spanish transport minister Oscar Puente said the crash was “very serious”, adding: “The impact has been terrible, causing the first two units of the Renfe train to be thrown off as a result.”
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez cleared his schedule for Monday to address the tragedy.
In pictures: Site of deadly collision between two high-speed trains
Mapped: Where did the crash take place?
A high-speed train derailed and smashed into another oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, pushing the second train off the tracks and down an embankment.
The accident happened at 7.45pm near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360km south of the capital Madrid.
An Iryo-operated train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed, sending multiple carriages across onto the other tracks. These were then hit head-on by a Renfe train travelling from Madrid to Huelva, sending it careering down a railway embankment.
The Iryo train had more than 300 passengers on board, while the Renfe train had around 100.
The crash took place 10 minutes after the Iryo train left Cordoba heading towards Madrid, authorities said.
"The Iryo 6189 Malaga - (to Madrid) train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train which was travelling on the adjacent track has also derailed," Adif, which runs the rail network, said in a social media post.
Civil Guard sends out special team to identify victims
Spain’s civil guard has sent out a special team to confirm the identities of the victims who have not yet been identified.
At least 39 people have been killed and over 122 treated in hospital for injuries.
Accident took place on straight section of track renovated in May, says Andalucian president
Andalucia’s president, Juan Manuel Moreno, described the incident as "extremely strange” during a visit to the scene in Puente on Sunday, according to El Pais.
He said that the accident was unusual given that it occurred on a straight section of track that had been renovated in May.
He expressed confidence that an investigation would clarify the causes.
Live: Site of deadly train crash in Spain that killed at least 39 and injured 100
Number of victims could rise, says Spanish transport minister
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente has shared his condolences with the victims and their families, adding that the death toll from the deadly crash is expected to rise.
“The death toll has already reached 39, and is not final,” he wrote on X/Twitter.
“I want to express all my gratitude for the huge effort of the rescue teams during the night, under very difficult circumstances, and my condolences to the victims and their families in these terribly painful moments.”
At least 122 people treated for injuries
Andalucian emergency services say that 48 injured people have been discharged from hospital.
Those still in hospital include five children, with 11 adults and one child still in intensive care.
At least 122 people have been treated overall and 74 of those have been discharged.
Train involved in crash last inspected four days ago
The train at the centre of the deadly crash was last inspected four days ago, parent company Trenitalia told Sky News.
Sources from Spain’s Interior Ministry told the broadcaster that prosecutors are awaiting a police report before opening a criminal probe.
Locals step up to support accident victims
Local television images showed a reception centre set up for passengers in Adamuz, a town of 5,000 people, with locals bringing food and blankets as nighttime temperatures hovered around 6C.
Tearful passengers disembarking from the bus spoke briefly to local press before being guided inside.
Salvador Jimenez, a journalist for TVE who was on board the Iryo train, shared images showing the nose of that train's rear carriage lying on its side, with evacuated passengers sitting on its upturned side.
Jimenez told TVE by phone from beside the stricken trains that passengers had used emergency hammers to smash the windows and climb out, and they had seen two people taken out of the overturned carriages on stretchers.
Rail operator 'deeply regrets' accident
Iryo, a private rail operator, majority-owned by Italian state-controlled railway group Ferrovie dello Stato, has released a statement about the accident.
The company said in a statement that it deeply regretted what had happened and had activated all emergency protocols to work closely with the relevant authorities.
The train involved was a Freccia 1000 train which was travelling between Malaga and Madrid, a spokesperson for Ferrovie dello Stato said.
Renfe said the derailment of its train had been caused by the Iryo train derailing into its path, adding that emergency services were still recovering passengers.
Renfe said its president was travelling to the crash site and that it was working to support passengers and their families. Adif has suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalucia.
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