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Rescue efforts continue after Spain's deadliest rail crash in decade
Heavy equipment aided recovery operations Tuesday following a two-train collision in southern Spain that left at least 41 people dead and over 120 injured. Three victims remained trapped in a mangled carriage as crews worked through a second night near Adamuz.
Investigation zeroes in on fractured rail
Spanish authorities ruled out sabotage and are focusing on a 30-centimeter gap in one of the rails as the likely cause of Sunday's crash. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters the possibility of foul play "was never considered," though all other theories remain under review.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as "extremely strange" and cautioned against speculation, noting investigators had found multiple cracks in the track. He said it would take at least a month to determine whether the fractures triggered the derailment or resulted from it.
"What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently [looking into]."
Ignacio Barron, Head of Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF)
Technical failures under scrutiny
Spanish media reported that a "deteriorated" weld was the probable cause of the rail failure. Technicians told El Mundo newspaper the defect was "more than likely" responsible for the derailment.
Álvaro Fernández Heredia, president of state-owned railway operator Renfe, dismissed human error as a factor, telling RNE radio that onboard systems would automatically correct any driver mistakes. He also confirmed both trains were traveling below the speed limit when the crash occurred.
National mourning and political response
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited the crash site Tuesday, meeting with emergency workers during the first of three days of national mourning. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos to oversee the investigation.
Transport Minister Puente said the death toll was still provisional, with officials working to identify victims. Most casualties were in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train.
Survivors recount chaos
Salvador Jimenez, an RTVE journalist on one of the trains, compared the impact to an "earthquake." "I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed," he said.
A passenger named José told Canal Sur he heard screams and calls for doctors. Footage from the scene showed overturned carriages, with rescuers climbing the wreckage to reach trapped passengers.
Service disruptions and prior warnings
All high-speed trains between Madrid and southern cities-including Málaga, Córdoba, Seville, and Huelva-remain suspended until Friday. Rail network operator Adif reported the collision occurred at 7:45 p.m. local time (6:45 p.m. GMT) on a straight stretch of track near Córdoba.
Spanish media revealed that train drivers had warned Adif in August about the Madrid-Andalusia line's condition, requesting a speed limit reduction below 250 km/h (155 mph). The drivers' union cited an increase in failures due to heavier, more frequent high-speed trains.
