At least 39 people have died and 12 are in intensive care after two trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening. The crash occurred near Adamuz in Córdoba province when a high-speed Iryo train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto another track, hitting an oncoming Renfe train.
The Renfe train, which was heading from Madrid to Huelva, also derailed and fell down a 4-metre slope. The two trains were carrying around 500 people in total. Emergency services reported that 122 people were treated for injuries, with 48 still in hospital on Monday morning.
Passengers described scenes of chaos and terror. One survivor on the derailed Iryo train said she was dragged out through a window by other passengers. Another passenger on the Renfe train told TVE: “There were people screaming, their bags fell from the shelves.” Firefighters worked to free those trapped in the badly damaged carriages.
Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, said the cause of the crash was not yet known, noting it was “really strange” for a derailment to occur on a straight stretch of track that was renewed in May. He added that most of the dead and injured were in the first two carriages of the second train.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of mourning and vowed a full investigation. “It’s a day of sorrow for all of Spain,” he said. “We are wondering what happened, how this tragedy could have occurred.” The regional president of Andalucía, Juan Manuel Moreno, offered condolences, saying: “Our hearts are broken.”
