At least 39 people have been confirmed dead and more than 120 others injured after a high-speed passenger train derailed and was struck by another train in southern Spain, authorities announced on Monday.
The tragic incident, described by officials as Spain’s worst rail disaster in more than a decade, occurred on Sunday evening near the town of Adamuz in the Andalusia region. A train operated by private rail company Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed and crossed onto an adjacent track, where it collided with an oncoming train. Both trains subsequently left the tracks.
Spain’s Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, said the death toll was not final and could still increase as rescue operations and identification efforts continued. He praised emergency responders for their efforts through the night under extremely challenging conditions.
The Interior Ministry reported that about 123 passengers were injured, including five in critical condition and 24 with serious injuries. Emergency workers were deployed in large numbers to the crash site, with images released by the Guardia Civil showing ongoing rescue operations amid the wreckage.
Puente noted that the derailment occurred on a straight section of track that had recently undergone full renovation, making the accident particularly puzzling. He added that the train involved was almost new, further deepening concerns over the cause of the crash.
Rail specialists, according to the minister, have expressed shock at the circumstances surrounding the incident, describing it as highly unusual and difficult to explain. Investigations are now underway to determine what led to the derailment and subsequent collision.
The tragedy marks the deadliest train accident in Spain since 2013, when 80 people lost their lives after a train derailed on a curved section of track near Santiago de Compostela.
