A major rail accident in southern Spain has left at least 39 people dead and 73 others injured after two high-speed trains collided on Sunday evening, according to railway officials and emergency services.
The crash occurred near the town of Almodóvar del Río, close to Córdoba, when one train derailed and entered an adjacent track, colliding head-on with another oncoming service. Authorities said the incident happened at around 5:40 pm GMT.
Spain’s rail infrastructure operator ADIF confirmed that the Málaga-to-Madrid high-speed train derailed before striking a Madrid-to-Huelva service travelling on a parallel line. Both trains were operating at high speed when the collision occurred, leading to extensive damage and multiple casualties.
Emergency responders were quickly dispatched to the scene, where rescue teams worked for hours to evacuate passengers trapped inside the damaged carriages. Medical teams treated dozens of injured passengers on site before transferring them to nearby hospitals.
Officials said rail traffic in the affected section of Andalusia was immediately suspended following the crash. Emergency services also confirmed that all rail operations in the area were halted to allow rescue efforts and safety inspections to proceed.
Spain’s emergency coordination service said the derailment caused significant disruption to high-speed rail connections between Madrid and southern regions. However, services connecting Madrid with Toledo, Ciudad Real and Puertollano were reported to be operating normally.
The train involved in the crash was operated by Iryo, a private rail company backed by Italian interests. Investigators are examining possible causes of the derailment, including track conditions and technical failure, though no official explanation has yet been confirmed.
Authorities said the accident occurred near a busy rail junction, adding to the severity of the collision. Passengers described scenes of chaos as carriages were forced off the tracks following the impact.
The incident comes just days after a separate train accident in Thailand, where a crane collapse led to a deadly derailment, highlighting growing concerns about rail safety in several countries.
Spain’s transport ministry has ordered a full investigation into the crash, while regional officials have expressed condolences to the victims and their families. Emergency services remain on site as recovery operations continue.