Spain Train Crash Death Toll Rises to 24, Rescue Efforts Challenged

Deadly Train Derailment in Southern Spain Claims 24 Lives

A devastating train accident in southern Spain has claimed at least 24 lives, with rescue operations facing significant challenges due to the severity of the wreckage. The collision occurred on January 18, 2026, near Adamuz in the Córdoba province of Andalusia, when two high-speed trains derailed in what authorities are calling a 'strange' and baffling incident.

Chaotic Scene as Trains Collide

The accident unfolded around 7:40 PM local time when an Iryo high-speed train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed after stopping at Córdoba-Julio Anguita station. The train crossed onto the opposite track and collided with a Renfe train traveling from Madrid to Huelva, causing both trains to derail. Approximately 500 passengers were involved across both trains.

Juanma Moreno, President of the Andalusia region, confirmed the rising death toll and warned it could increase further. 'One of the wagons has been transformed into a pile of scrap metal,' Moreno stated, emphasizing the difficulty of rescue operations. 'We need heavy equipment to help search for victims.'

Rescue Operations Hampered by Terrain

Emergency services faced extraordinary challenges as part of one train had fallen down a 4-meter embankment, complicating access to victims. The twisted wreckage forced rescue workers to carefully extract bodies to reach potential survivors.

A passenger named Carmen described the terrifying moments on social media platform X: 'Ten minutes after departure from Córdoba, the train began shaking violently and a wagon behind us derailed. The lights went out.'

Investigation into 'Strange' Accident

Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente called the incident 'extremely strange' and baffling to railway experts. The accident occurred on a straight section of track that had been completely renovated in May 2025, with 700 million euros invested in the infrastructure.

'The track was in perfect condition and the derailed high-speed train was relatively new, only four years old,' Puente told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.

National Mourning and Service Disruption

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled all appointments for the day following the tragedy, declaring 'Today is a day of deep mourning for our country.' The government deployed a special military emergency service to assist rescue operations at the crash site.

All high-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended, affecting more than 200 trains. This marks Spain's worst rail disaster since the 2013 Galicia derailment that killed 80 people.

The Spanish high-speed rail network, operated by ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), is the longest in Europe with 3,973 kilometers of track. The AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) system has been operational since 1992 and has generally maintained an excellent safety record until this tragedy.

Authorities expect the investigation into the cause of the derailment to take at least a month, with forensic teams and railway experts examining the wreckage and track conditions.