A high-speed train derailment in southern Spain has left at least 39 people dead and more than 120 injured, authorities confirmed on Monday.
The accident, described as “extremely strange,” is the country’s deadliest rail disaster since 2013.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday evening near Adamuz in Andalucia, when an Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto another track. It collided with an oncoming train operated by Renfe, which also derailed.
Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the death toll could rise. “I want to express my deepest gratitude for the tremendous work of the rescue teams throughout the night, under very difficult circumstances,” he wrote on X.
The Interior Ministry reported that 123 people were injured, including five critically and 24 seriously.
“Extremely Strange” Accident
Unlike the 2013 Santiago de Compostela crash, which occurred on a curve, this derailment happened on a straight section of track that had been recently renovated.
Puente noted that the train was “practically new,” having been built in 2022 and inspected just days earlier.
At least 39 people have been killed and dozens taken to hospital after two high-speed trains crashed in southern Spain.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 19, 2026
The crash is the country's worst rail disaster since 2013 as trains collide at 130mph. | @AliBunkallSKY https://t.co/t11XDkAVnZ pic.twitter.com/ATA6TPLOUW
Rail experts expressed shock. “Rail experts are very surprised by this accident,” Puente said, adding that investigations are underway.
Iryo confirmed that around 300 passengers were on board its train. The company said the locomotive “veered onto the adjacent track for still unknown reasons.” Renfe has not disclosed how many passengers were on its train bound for Huelva.
Rescue Efforts and Survivor Accounts
Emergency services struggled to free passengers trapped in twisted carriages.
“The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside,” said Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Cordoba. “We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.”
Survivors described scenes of chaos. Montse, a passenger on the second train, said: “The train came to a complete stop and everything went dark. 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.”
Another survivor, Lucas Meriako, told La Sexta television: “This looks like a horror movie. We felt a very strong hit from behind and the feeling that the whole train was about to collapse.”
National Mourning
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced he would visit the crash site. “Today is a night of deep pain for our country owing to the tragic rail accident in Adamuz. No words can alleviate such great suffering,” he wrote on X.
The royal palace said King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were following developments “with great concern.” They offered condolences to families of the victims and wished the injured a swift recovery.
International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also expressed solidarity with Spain.
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May the souls and spirit’s of everybody dead rest in peace. Amen.