A catastrophic high-speed train crash in southern Spain on Sunday has claimed at least 21 lives and left dozens more injured, authorities confirmed. The accident occurred near Adamuz in Córdoba province, approximately 360 kilometers south of Madrid, when an Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided with a Renfe train heading from Madrid to Huelva. The impact sent the Renfe train down a railway embankment.
Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed the death toll, while Andalucía’s regional chief, Juanma Moreno, said 75 people had been hospitalized, 15 of them in serious condition. “The forcefulness of the accident has been very strong … we will likely find more corpses,” Moreno warned, noting that heavy machinery would be required to remove the wrecked train carriages.
Approximately 400 passengers were on board both trains at the time of the collision. Video from the scene showed rescuers evacuating passengers from twisted carriages, some climbing out of shattered windows while others were carried on stretchers. Among the deceased was the 27-year-old driver of the Renfe Madrid-to-Huelva train.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and fear. Maria San José, 33, a passenger on the derailed Iryo train, told El País, “There are many injured. I am still trembling.” Another passenger on the Renfe train described passengers screaming as bags fell from the shelves during the collision.
The Renfe train was traveling at around 200 km/h (124 mph) at the time of impact, while the speed of the Iryo train before derailment has not yet been confirmed. Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente said it was “really strange” that a derailment occurred on a straight section of track that had been recently renewed in May 2025.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the tragedy as “a night of deep pain for our country,” while Spain’s King and Queen were closely monitoring the situation. Local authorities and residents of Adamuz, a town of 5,000, quickly mobilized to assist, providing blankets, food, and shelter for evacuated passengers amid cold nighttime temperatures.
Rescue efforts have been complex, particularly on the Renfe train, where twisted metal and narrow spaces have made access difficult. Cordoba fire chief Paco Carmona reported that while the Iryo train had been evacuated within hours, many passengers were still trapped in the Renfe carriages.
Both Iryo, a private operator majority-owned by Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato, and Renfe have activated emergency protocols to support victims and their families. Adif, which manages Spain’s rail network, has suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalucía as investigations continue.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the derailment. Investigators are examining whether mechanical failure, track conditions, or other factors led to the collision, as Spain mourns the victims of one of the country’s deadliest train accidents in recent years
