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Deadly Train Collision in Southern Spain Claims 41 Lives
Rescue workers in Spain continue their grim search through twisted wreckage as the death toll from Sunday's catastrophic train collision near Adamuz has risen to 41. The devastating accident, which occurred when two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain's Córdoba province, has become the country's deadliest rail disaster since 2013.
Spanish authorities confirmed that another body was recovered early Tuesday when cranes lifted one of the mangled train carriages. 'We found the victim as we carefully raised the carriage with heavy machinery,' said rescue coordinator Miguel Ángel Torres. 'This work is painstaking and heartbreaking, but we must continue until we're certain no one else remains in the wreckage.'
Complex Rescue Operation Underway
Emergency crews have been working around the clock since Sunday evening, using two massive cranes to lift derailed carriages that fell down a 4-meter embankment. The operation has been complicated by the need to level the ground with excavators before the cranes can be properly positioned.
According to Spanish broadcaster RTVE, three bodies were previously known to be trapped in the wreckage but couldn't be recovered due to the precarious position of the carriages. Authorities warn the death toll could still rise as search teams comb through the debris.
Medical Crisis and Human Toll
Hospitals across Andalusia are treating 39 injured passengers, with 13 in critical condition in intensive care units. Among the wounded are four children, highlighting the tragic scope of the disaster that has affected families across Spain.
The collision occurred around 6:40 PM local time on Sunday when the rear section of an Iryo train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto the adjacent track. Moments later, it was struck by an oncoming Renfe train traveling from Madrid to Huelva. The impact was so violent that some bodies were found hundreds of meters from the crash site.
Investigation Focuses on Rail Defect
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente has called the accident 'remarkable' because it occurred on a straight section of track where neither train was exceeding speed limits. The investigation is now centered on a broken rail joint that may have caused the initial derailment.
'Any claim that the accident was caused by a defective track is pure speculation at this point,' Puente stated, urging patience as investigators examine whether the rail break occurred before or as a result of the crash.
Rail operator Renfe has ruled out human error, while the train drivers' union SEMAF had reportedly warned infrastructure operator Adif about severe track wear and tear as early as August 2025. According to The Independent, union reports documented daily concerns about potholes, bumps, and power line imbalances on the recently renovated line.
National Mourning and Royal Visit
Spain has declared three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-staff across the country. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are scheduled to visit the crash site today and will likely visit Córdoba hospitals where many victims are being treated.
Family members of unidentified victims gathered at a government building in Córdoba overnight, desperately seeking information about their loved ones. 'Some have stayed awake all night searching hospitals, police stations, and morgues,' reported El País.
The tragedy has shocked a nation with one of Europe's largest and generally safe high-speed rail networks. As rescue operations continue and investigations deepen, Spain mourns what has become one of its worst transportation disasters in decades.
