At least 39 people were killed and more than 120 injured after a high-speed train derailed and collided with another train in southern Spain, authorities confirmed on Monday. Officials described the incident as highly unusual, calling it the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than a decade.
The crash occurred on Sunday evening when a train operated by Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed near the town of Adamuz. The train crossed onto the opposite track, where it struck an oncoming service bound for Huelva. Both trains derailed following the impact. Spain’s interior ministry said the death toll had risen from an earlier figure of 21 to at least 39. A total of 123 people were injured, including five in critical condition and 24 with serious injuries.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the accident took place on a straight section of track that had been fully renovated. He added that the derailed train was almost new, making the cause of the crash difficult to understand at this stage. Rail experts, he noted, were surprised by the incident and said it was too early to explain how it happened.
Emergency response efforts were complicated by the condition of the wreckage and the number of passengers trapped inside. Several carriages were badly twisted, with some falling down a four-metre embankment.
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