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Spain observes three days of mourning following fatal train crash
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a national period of mourning after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, leaving at least 40 people dead and over 120 injured. Rescue operations continue at the crash site near Adamuz, where twisted wreckage has hampered recovery efforts.
Collision details and immediate aftermath
The accident occurred at 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on Sunday when a Madrid-bound train derailed on a straight section of track near Córdoba, veering onto the opposite track and striking an oncoming train traveling from Madrid to Huelva. Transport Minister Óscar Puente reported that the impact hurled carriages of the southbound train into an embankment, with most casualties concentrated in its front cars.
Rail operator Adif confirmed that 400 passengers and crew were aboard the two trains. Emergency services treated 122 individuals, with 41-including children-still hospitalized as of Monday. Twelve victims remain in intensive care, and authorities warned the death toll may rise as identification efforts continue.
Investigation underway amid early clues
Sánchez visited the crash site on Monday, pledging a transparent investigation into the disaster, which he described as a national tragedy. Puente called the incident "extremely strange" and estimated the inquiry could take at least a month.
Reuters cited an unnamed source familiar with preliminary findings, stating investigators had identified a defective rail joint that may have contributed to the derailment. The source noted the joint's widening gap under train weight but stopped short of confirming it as the primary cause. Spain's El País reported uncertainty over whether the fault triggered the crash or resulted from it.
Survivor accounts and rescue challenges
Salvador Jiménez, an RTVE journalist on the northbound train, compared the impact to an "earthquake." Footage from the scene showed overturned carriages, with rescue workers climbing the wreckage to extract survivors through windows and doors.
"There were people screaming, calling for doctors,"
José, a Madrid-bound passenger, told Canal Sur
Adif suspended all high-speed services between Madrid and southern cities-including Málaga, Córdoba, Seville, and Huelva-until Friday to facilitate the investigation.
National response and historical context
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia expressed "great concern" and extended condolences to victims' families. The Andalusian emergency agency urged survivors to reassure relatives via social media, while the Spanish Red Cross deployed support teams and counseling services.
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez of the Red Cross told RNE radio that families faced "great anxiety" due to delayed information. The crash marks Spain's deadliest rail disaster since 2013, when a high-speed derailment in Galicia killed 80 people.
Spain's high-speed network, the world's second-largest after China, spans over 4,000 km (2,485 miles) and connects more than 50 cities. The trains involved were Freccia 1000 models, capable of speeds up to 400 km/h (250 mph), according to Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato.
