According to official sources, on Sunday evening (December 17), two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, near the town of Adamuz close to Cordoba, resulting in at least 21 fatalities and dozens of injuries.
The railway operator Adif stated that the accident occurred when a high-speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crashed into another train heading in the opposite direction towards Huelva from Madrid, causing it to derail.
Authorities have confirmed 21 fatalities so far. The emergency rescue department of Andalusia reported at least 25 people with serious injuries, while some sustained minor injuries.
Spain’s national television station, Television Espanola, added that 100 people were injured, with 25 in serious condition. The television network reported that the driver of the train heading from Madrid to Huelva was among the victims.
The private railway company Iryo, operating the section between Malaga and Spain, confirmed the derailment accident and mentioned there were about 300 passengers on board.
Spain’s national railway company, Adif, which manages the railway network, took to social media stating: “Train Iryo 6189 from Malaga to Madrid derailed in Adamuz, colliding with the adjacent track. The Madrid to Huelva train traveling on the adjacent track also derailed.”
According to Adif, the accident occurred at 18:40 local time, about 10 minutes after the Iryo train departed from Malaga. Following the incident, all railway services between Madrid and Andalusia were temporarily suspended.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain expressed their “great concern” over the accident. “We offer our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” the royal family posted.
Salvador Jimenez, a reporter from Spain’s national television channel RTVE, was on one of the trains during the incident. He mentioned that some passengers were able to escape on their own without severe injuries.
“I was in the first carriage at that moment. It felt like an earthquake; the train indeed derailed. They immediately called to check if there were medical personnel available, used hammers to break the windows, and eventually evacuated all of us,” he added.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the government is collaborating with emergency rescue departments to assist the affected individuals. Juanma Moreno, the President of the Andalusia region, expressed concern and support for the victims and their families.