At Least 39 Dead in Spain's Deadliest High-Speed Train Collision in Over a Decade

 

Short Summary 

At least 39 people were killed and dozens injured when two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in Córdoba province, southern Spain, on January 18, 2026. A Malaga-Madrid train derailed, crossing tracks and slamming into an oncoming Madrid-Huelva service. Rescue operations continue amid fears the toll could rise. Over 130 rail services cancelled; investigation underway into the cause on a recently renovated track. Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez called it a "night of deep pain." EU's Ursula von der Leyen offered condolences.

Long Summary

In one of Spain's worst rail disasters in over a decade, at least 39 people were killed and dozens injured when two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in Córdoba province on Sunday evening, January 18, 2026.

The accident occurred around 7:45 pm local time when the rear section of a privately operated Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed on a flat, recently renovated stretch of track. It jumped onto the opposite track, colliding head-on with an oncoming Renfe-operated train bound for Huelva from Madrid. The impact derailed the second train, sending its front carriages down a 13-foot embankment. Approximately 400 passengers were aboard the two trains combined, many Spaniards returning after the weekend.

Rescue efforts involving emergency services, firefighters, and the Spanish Civil Guard continued into Monday, with heavy machinery deployed to clear twisted wreckage. Survivors described chaotic scenes: sudden jolts, darkness, crying children, and passengers thrown about amid shattering glass. One passenger called it "like a horror movie," while another felt "given a second chance at life."

Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as "truly strange," noting the derailed Iryo train was less than four years old. An official inquiry could take up to a month, with the cause still unknown.

The crash disrupted services extensively, with over 130 trains cancelled between Madrid and Andalusian cities like Seville, Malaga, Córdoba, and Huelva. Renfe offered free changes and refunds, while infrastructure manager Adif set up a hotline for victims' relatives.

Spain boasts Europe's largest high-speed rail network, over 3,100 km, carrying more than 25 million passengers in 2024 on its safe, affordable system. This tragedy echoes the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment, which killed 80 due to excessive speed.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cleared his agenda to monitor developments, expressing deep national sadness. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen conveyed condolences and wished the injured swift recovery. Regional President Juanma Moreno reported 75 hospitalizations initially.

As investigations begin and services remain suspended, the nation mourns amid ongoing searches for potential additional victims in the mangled carriages.