Spain Train Crash: 21 Dead, 100 Injured in High-Speed Derailment Collision
A devastating train accident in southern Spain has claimed at least 21 lives and left 100 people injured. The tragedy unfolded on Sunday evening when two high-speed trains derailed and collided near the town of Adamuz in Cordoba province.
What Happened in the Spain Train Crash?
The accident occurred at 6:40 p.m. local time. An Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed first. It crashed onto an adjacent track where a Renfe train was traveling from Madrid to Huelva. This caused the second train to also leave the tracks.
Spanish rail infrastructure manager Adif confirmed these details in a social media post. The collision created horrific scenes with twisted metal and severely damaged carriages.
Rescue Operations and Casualty Details
Police have confirmed 21 fatalities from the crash. State broadcaster Television Espanola reported that 100 people suffered injuries, with 25 in serious condition. The driver of one train was among those who died.
Rescue teams face challenging conditions. Cordoba fire chief Paco Carmona described the difficult operation to television reporters. "We have to remove the bodies to reach anyone who is still alive," he said. "It is proving to be a complicated task."
Carmona confirmed that people remain trapped in the wreckage. The operation focuses on extracting survivors from very narrow spaces within the damaged trains.
Passenger Accounts and Immediate Response
The Iryo train carried more than 300 passengers, while the Renfe train had approximately 100 people on board. Passengers described terrifying moments as the accident unfolded.
"Ten minutes after departing from Cordoba the train started to shake a lot, and it derailed from coach 6 behind us," said Carmen, a passenger on the Iryo train. "The lights went out."
Another passenger shared footage showing train staff in fluorescent jackets instructing people to remain in their seats. They asked passengers with first aid training to monitor fellow travelers. The staff also urged everyone to conserve mobile phone batteries for using torches during evacuation.
Journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was on the Iryo train, reported that passengers used emergency hammers to break windows and climb out. He saw two people removed from overturned carriages on stretchers.
Official Statements and Emergency Measures
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente called the situation "very serious" in a social media post. He confirmed the terrible impact threw the first two carriages of the Renfe train off the track.
"The number of victims cannot be confirmed at this time," Puente stated. "The most important thing now is to help the victims."
Adif has suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia following the accident. The private rail operator Iryo expressed deep regret over what happened. The company activated all emergency protocols to work with authorities.
Local Response and Support Efforts
Adamuz mayor Rafael Moreno was among the first to arrive at the crash site with local police. He described seeing what appeared to be a badly lacerated body several meters from the accident location.
"The scene is horrific," Moreno told El Pais newspaper. "Now the mayors and residents of the area are focused on helping the passengers."
The small town of Adamuz, with just 5,000 residents, quickly established a reception center for passengers. Locals brought food and blankets as nighttime temperatures dropped to around 6 degrees Celsius.
Passengers evacuated from the trains now face uncertainty about their immediate future. "There's a certain uncertainty about when we'll get to Madrid, where we'll spend the night," Jimenez told reporters. "We've had no message from the train company yet."
Rescue operations continue at the crash site as authorities work to account for all passengers and provide medical care to the injured.
