Spain has begun three days of mourning after a train collision in Andalucía killed at least 40 people and injured dozens. The crash, which occurred on Sunday evening near Adamuz in Córdoba province, is the country's worst rail disaster in over a decade. Rescuers continue to comb through the wreckage, and officials say the death toll is likely to rise.
The accident happened when a high-speed train carrying about 300 passengers from Madrid to Huelva derailed on a straight stretch of track and collided with an oncoming train. The impact sent the first two carriages of the southbound train down a 4-metre slope. Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the derailment as 'really strange' on a straight section that had been renovated in May.
A source told Reuters that technicians had identified a broken joint on the rails, which created a gap that widened as trains continued to travel. The faulty joint could be key to determining the cause. The train that derailed was less than four years old and had been inspected four days earlier, according to operator Iryo. The president of state rail company Renfe said human error was 'practically ruled out'.
Since 2022, infrastructure administrator Adif had flagged 10 issues in the area, from signalling failures to power line problems. In August, the train drivers' union warned that increased traffic had caused severe track wear and tear. However, the union urged caution in linking that warning to the crash. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the site and vowed a full and transparent investigation.
Emergency services worked through the night to rescue passengers, some of whom escaped using emergency hammers. The mayor of Adamuz described the scene as 'horrific'. Police have opened offices for people to file reports and provide DNA samples for identification. Families continue to search for missing loved ones, with many using social media to plead for information.
