Spain Train Crash: A tragic train accident unfolded in southern Spain on Sunday when a high-speed train derailed and crashed into another train coming from the opposite direction. The force of the collision pushed the second train off the tracks and down an embankment. Police sources told that at least 21 people have been killed so far, while many others were injured.
At least 21 people were killed, and 100 more were injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain
— Omne Europa (@neolatyno) January 19, 2026
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The exact cause of the crash is still unknown. Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said it was “really strange” that a derailment occurred on a straight stretch of track. He added that this section of the railway had been renewed only in May. Puente was speaking to reporters at Madrid’s Atocha station.
Where and How the Spain Train Crash Happened
The accident took place near Adamuz, a town in the Cordoba province, around 360 km south of Madrid. According to Adif, the state-owned company that manages Spain’s rail network, the crash happened at 6:40 pm (1740 GMT), just 10 minutes after the Iryo train had left Cordoba on its way to Madrid.
In a statement shared on social media, Adif said:
“The Iryo 6189 Malaga - (to Madrid) train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train which was travelling on the adjacent track has also derailed.”
One of the trains involved was travelling from Madrid to Huelva, while the other was an Iryo high-speed train running between Malaga and Madrid.
Spain Train Crash: Trains and Operators Involved
The derailed Iryo train was a Freccia 1000, operated by Iryo, a private rail company majority-owned by Italy’s state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato. The company said it deeply regretted the incident and had activated all emergency protocols to cooperate with authorities.
The second train, an Alvia, was operated by Renfe, Spain’s national rail company. Newspaper El Pais reported that the Renfe train was travelling at about 200 km per hour at the time of the crash.
Renfe said the derailment happened after the Iryo train derailed into its path. The company added that emergency teams were still working to rescue passengers and that its president was travelling to the crash site. It also said it was providing support to passengers and their families.
Following the accident, Adif suspended all train services between Madrid and Andalusia.
Spain Train Crash: Rescue Operations and Scene of Destruction
Emergency services, including troops from a nearby military base, were deployed to help with rescue and recovery efforts. The Military Emergency Service confirmed their involvement.
The Iryo train had more than 300 passengers, while the Renfe train was carrying around 100 people. Rescue teams faced serious challenges due to difficult access to the site. One of the trains had fallen four metres down an embankment beside the tracks.
Cordoba’s fire chief, Paco Carmona, described the situation as extremely difficult. He told TVE that while passengers from the Iryo train were evacuated within hours, the Renfe train suffered severe damage.
“There are still people trapped. The operation is concentrating on getting people out of areas which are very narrow,” he said.
“We have to remove the bodies to reach anyone who is still alive. It is proving to be a complicated task.”
Spain Government Response
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cleared his schedule for Monday to deal with the tragedy. A spokesperson said the King and Queen of Spain were closely following developments. Several foreign embassies also contacted their staff to check on their safety.
Transport Minister Puente said he was monitoring the situation from Adif’s headquarters in Madrid. “The latest information is very serious,” he wrote on X. “The impact was terrible, causing the first two carriages of the Renfe train to be thrown off the track. The number of victims cannot be confirmed at this time. The most important thing now is to help the victims.”
Spain Train Crash: “The Scene Is Horrific”
Adamuz mayor Rafael Moreno, one of the first officials to reach the crash site, described the devastation he witnessed. “The scene is horrific,” he told El Pais. He added that local authorities and residents were fully focused on helping survivors.