A tragic high-speed train crash in southern Spain has left at least 21 people dead and 100 injured, with 25 of those injuries being severe. The accident occurred near the town of Adamuz in the Cordoba province, approximately 330 kilometers south of Madrid, at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, according to the rail network operator Adif. The Iryo 6189 Malaga-to-Madrid train derailed and crashed onto the adjacent track, where another Madrid-to-Huelva train was also derailed. The driver of the Madrid-to-Huelva train was among the fatalities, as confirmed by Spain's national broadcaster.
The Iryo train, operated by a private rail company majority-owned by Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato, had over 300 passengers on board. The Renfe train, operated by a different company, had around 100 passengers. The accident scene was described as horrific, with one carriage off the rails and tilted, and emergency workers attempting to rescue passengers through broken windows. The fire chief, Paco Carmona, reported that people were still trapped, and the focus was on narrow areas, making the rescue operation challenging.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente expressed the seriousness of the situation, stating that the impact caused the first two carriages of the Renfe train to be thrown off the track. The exact number of victims is still uncertain. Local mayor Rafael Moreno described the scene as horrific and mentioned seeing a badly lacerated body near the accident site. The royal palace extended condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the deceased and wished for a swift recovery for the injured.
Social media posts and images from passengers provided a glimpse into the chaos. One passenger, Carmen, recounted how the train started shaking violently ten minutes after departure and then derailed, with the lights going out. Another passenger shared footage of a staff member instructing passengers to remain seated and those with first aid skills to monitor fellow passengers. The staff member also advised passengers to maintain their mobile phone batteries for torch use upon disembarkation.
Journalists on board the Iryo train, including Salvador Jimenez, shared harrowing images and accounts. Jimenez described how passengers used emergency hammers to break windows and climb out, with two people taken out of the overturned carriages on stretchers. The passengers expressed uncertainty about their arrival time in Madrid and where they would spend the night, as they had not received any updates from the train company. The cold temperatures added to the challenges faced by the stranded passengers.
