{"id":81202,"date":"2026-01-19T16:15:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T13:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nationalturk.com\/en\/?p=81202"},"modified":"2026-01-19T16:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T13:15:44","slug":"spain-trains-collide-killing-at-least-39","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalturk.com\/en\/spain-trains-collide-killing-at-least-39\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain rocked by worst rail disaster in over a decade as high-speed trains collide, killing at least 39"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spain<\/a> was plunged into mourning after a devastating train collision in the country\u2019s south left at least 39 people dead and dozens more injured, marking the nation\u2019s deadliest rail crash in more than ten years. The incident unfolded near the town of Adamuz in the province of C\u00f3rdoba on Sunday evening, when a Madrid-bound train derailed, crossed onto the opposite track and slammed into an oncoming service traveling south.<\/p>\n

Collision on a straight stretch of track<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rail infrastructure operator Adif said the crash occurred at 7:45pm local time, roughly an hour after the M\u00e1laga-to-Madrid train departed. The derailment happened on a straight section of track outside C\u00f3rdoba, a detail that has intensified questions over how the accident could have occurred.<\/p>\n

Transport Minister \u00d3scar Puente described the event as \u201cextremely strange,\u201d warning that the death toll \u201cis not yet final\u201d as investigators work to establish what went wrong.<\/p>\n

Around 400 onboard, dozens still hospitalized<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rail networks reported that about 400 passengers and staff were on the two trains combined. Emergency teams treated 122 people at the scene or in nearby medical facilities. Authorities said 43 people \u2014 including four children \u2014 remained in hospital, while 12 adults and one child were receiving intensive care.<\/p>\n

Puente said the force of the impact pushed carriages of the second train into an embankment, adding that most of the fatalities and serious injuries were concentrated in the front carriages of the southbound service.<\/p>\n

Rescue teams battled twisted wreckage through the night<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Recovery efforts continued through the night, with rescue crews struggling to reach those trapped inside mangled carriages. C\u00f3rdoba\u2019s fire chief Francisco Carmona said the scale of the damage made the operation especially difficult, describing painstaking work required to access survivors.<\/p>\n

RTVE journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was traveling on one of the trains, said the impact felt like \u201can earthquake,\u201d recalling the moment the train left the tracks.<\/p>\n

Images from the site showed several carriages tipped onto their sides as emergency workers climbed over the wreckage and pulled passengers out through doors and windows.<\/p>\n

Rail links suspended, stations set up for families<\/strong><\/h3>\n

All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended after the crash and were expected to remain shut throughout Monday. Private operator Iryo said about 300 passengers were onboard the train that first derailed, while the second service \u2014 run by state-backed Renfe \u2014 carried around 100.<\/p>\n

Adif said support spaces for relatives were established at major stations including Atocha, Seville, C\u00f3rdoba, M\u00e1laga and Huelva. Advanced medical posts were also set up to treat injured passengers and coordinate transfers to hospitals.<\/p>\n

The Spanish Red Cross deployed emergency support units to the scene and offered counselling to families seeking information. Red Cross representative Miguel \u00c1ngel Rodr\u00edguez said relatives were experiencing intense anxiety due to uncertainty and a lack of updates in the immediate aftermath.<\/p>\n

Leaders respond as investigation begins<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez said Spain<\/a> would endure \u201ca night of deep pain,\u201d while Adamuz mayor Rafael Moreno \u2014 among the first to arrive at the scene \u2014 described the crash as \u201ca nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following developments \u201cwith great concern,\u201d extending condolences to the families of the victims and wishing the injured a swift recovery.<\/p>\n

Condolences also poured in from abroad, with statements issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.<\/p>\n

Officials said the cause of the collision remained unknown, and the transport minister cautioned that determining what happened may take at least a month.<\/p>\n

A tragedy that recalls Spain\u2019s 2013 crash<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The disaster revived memories of Spain\u2019s 2013 derailment in Galicia, which killed around 80 people and injured many more. Spain operates one of the world\u2019s largest high-speed rail systems, connecting more than 50 cities across a network stretching over 4,000km.
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