At least 39 people were killed and dozens more injured when a high-speed train derailed and collided with another train late Sunday in Adamuz, southern Spain, local authorities said. It is the country’s deadliest rail disaster since 2013.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente cautioned that the death toll may climb as rescue crews continue searching the wreckage. Puente, who canceled a planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, called the crash “extremely strange,” noting that it occurred on a straight, recently renovated section of track. “All the experts we have consulted are extremely baffled,” he said.
Iryo, operator of the derailed train, said roughly 300 passengers were on board. Renfe, the state-owned operator of the second train, has not released its passenger count.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the night as one of “deep pain” and offered condolences to the victims’ families, saying “the entire country stands with them.”
In the aftermath, Adamuz Mayor Rafael Ángel Moreno said the scene was chaotic, with passengers struggling to escape and numerous injuries. He praised local residents for rushing in with cars, food, water, tools and blankets. “The solidarity has been overwhelming,” he said.
According to Andalucía’s emergency services agency, 48 people remain hospitalized, including 12 in intensive care — one of them a child. Another 74 have been treated and released. Authorities said the affected rail line may remain closed beyond Monday as recovery work and the investigation continue.