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Updated 20 January 2026 - Rescue efforts continue as authorities investigate the cause of the collision near Córdoba.
At least 39 dead in southern Spain train collision
Spain's Civil Guard confirmed on Monday that 39 people died and dozens were injured after two trains collided near Adamuz, in what officials called the country's worst rail accident in more than 10 years. The crash occurred Sunday evening when a Madrid-bound train derailed and veered onto the opposite track, striking an oncoming service.
Rescue operations hampered by wreckage
Emergency crews faced grueling conditions as twisted metal and overturned carriages blocked access to trapped passengers. Córdoba fire chief Francisco Carmona told RTVE that responders had to remove a deceased victim to reach survivors, calling the recovery effort "hard, tricky work."
Of the 400 passengers and staff aboard both trains, 122 received medical treatment. As of Monday, 48 people-including five children-remained hospitalized, with 11 adults and one child in intensive care.
Officials baffled by 'extremely strange' crash
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the death toll may rise as investigations begin. He described the incident as "extremely strange," noting that government-consulted rail experts were "baffled" by the derailment on a straight stretch of track.
The collision occurred at 7:45 p.m. local time (6:45 p.m. GMT), about an hour after the Málaga-to-Madrid service departed. The impact hurled carriages from the southbound Madrid-to-Huelva train into an embankment, where most fatalities and injuries occurred. Both trains were operated by separate firms: Iryo (private) and Renfe (state-funded).
"We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive."
Francisco Carmona, Córdoba fire chief
Survivors recount chaos, nation reacts
RTVE journalist Salvador Jimenez, a passenger on one of the trains, compared the impact to an "earthquake." José, another survivor, told Canal Sur of panicked screams and cries for doctors in the aftermath.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called it a "night of deep pain," while King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia expressed "great concern" and condolences. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, offered solidarity.
Regional authorities set up emergency posts at major stations and urged survivors to contact families. The Red Cross deployed support teams, with spokesperson Miguel Ángel Rodríguez noting families' "great anxiety" over missing information.
Investigation underway, rail network suspended
The cause remains unknown, with officials warning the inquiry could take a month or longer. Both trains involved were Freccia 1000 models, capable of speeds up to 400 km/h (250 mph), according to Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato.
All Madrid-Andalusia rail services were suspended Monday, with no immediate timeline for resumption. Spain's high-speed network, the world's second-largest after China, spans over 4,000 km (2,485 miles).
