Madrid: A serious rail disaster struck southern Spain on the evening of Sunday, when two high-speed passenger trains derailed and crashed near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province. The collision occurred on a section of track that forms a key part of the country’s high-speed rail network.
Early media reports indicate that one of the trains, travelling on a route connecting southern cities with Madrid, left its track unexpectedly and veered onto a neighbouring line. Almost immediately, it collided with another high-speed service heading in the opposite direction. The impact was severe, with several carriages from both trains derailed or crumpled.
Emergency workers were on the scene within minutes, with firefighters, medical teams and rescue units combing through the wreckage. Many passengers were pulled from inside the trains and taken to hospitals, while others were treated on site for injuries ranging from broken bones to shock and cuts. Authorities confirmed that dozens of people were injured and that at least 20 lives were lost, though the number of casualties could rise as operations continue.
Trains on the high-speed lines running between Madrid and major Andalusian cities such as Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, Granada and Huelva were halted immediately. Rail officials announced that services would remain suspended through Monday, as the site remains an active emergency zone and investigations begin.
Meanwhile, ADIF, the Spanish state-owned railway infrastructure manager, said that it is working in coordination with emergency services and railway companies following the accident.
In a post on X, it said: “High-speed rail traffic between Madrid and Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, Granada and Huelva will remain suspended, at least, throughout Monday. Services between Madrid and Cádiz, Algeciras and Granada will also be affected.”
