How Did Two High-Speed Trains Collide on a Flat, Recently Renovated Track In Spain?

Two high-speed trains — Iryo Malaga-Madrid and Renfe Madrid-Huelva — collide after one derails near Adamuz, killing 21 and hospitalising 75; the cause is under investigation.

By Anjali M Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:51:07 IST

A deadly high-speed train accident in southern Spain left at least 21 people dead and dozens injured after one train derailed and collided with another on Sunday evening, triggering scenes of panic and destruction near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province.

According to Spanish rail operator Adif, the tail end of a private Iryo train travelling from Malaga to Madrid with around 300 passengers derailed at about 7:45 pm, jumped onto the opposite track and slammed into a Renfe-operated train carrying nearly 200 passengers from Madrid to Huelva. Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente confirmed the death toll had risen to 21 after rescue teams completed survivor evacuations overnight, though he warned more victims could still be identified.

Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno said at least 75 passengers were hospitalised, including 15 in serious condition, with most taken to hospitals in the nearby city of Córdoba. Emergency services worked through the night to recover bodies from the wreckage, as only first responders were allowed near the crash site.

Also Read: Spain Mourns 21 Dead After Rare High-Speed Train Crash Near Adamuz

Passengers described terrifying moments inside the train. Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with Spanish broadcaster RTVE who was on board, said the impact “felt like an earthquake,” adding that travellers smashed windows with emergency hammers and escaped through broken carriages that were left leaning at sharp angles.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains unknown. Minister Puente called the incident “truly strange,” noting it occurred on a flat section of track renovated just months ago and involved a train less than four years old. An official investigation is expected to take up to a month.

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia expressed condolences to the victims’ families, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was closely following the “terrible news” from Córdoba. Train services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended on Monday as Spain grappled with one of its deadliest rail disasters in recent years.

Also Read: Spain Mourns 21 Dead After Rare High-Speed Train Crash Near Adamuz