Adamuz, Spain: A devastating collision between two passenger trains in southern Spain has left at least 21 people dead and dozens injured. The accident occurred near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, around 360 kilometres south of Madrid.
Authorities said a Malaga-to-Madrid high-speed train derailed and veered onto an adjacent track, where it slammed into an oncoming Madrid-to-Huelva service. The impact forced the second train off the tracks and down a steep embankment, crushing carriages and trapping passengers inside mangled metal.
Regional officials confirmed that 75 people were taken to the hospital, with at least 15 in serious condition. Emergency services warned that the death toll could rise as daylight allows rescuers to fully assess the wreckage. Heavy machinery is being deployed to cut through twisted steel and reach areas that remain inaccessible.
Video footage from the scene showed a nightmarish rescue operation under floodlights, with emergency crews pulling injured passengers from overturned carriages. Some survivors escaped through shattered windows, while others were carried out on stretchers amid debris scattered across the tracks.
Around 400 passengers were travelling on the two trains, most of them Spanish residents returning to or leaving Madrid after the weekend. The Iryo-operated high-speed train was carrying more than 300 people, while the Renfe Alvia service had around 100 passengers on board.
Hoy es una noche de profundo dolor para nuestro país por el trágico accidente ferroviario en Adamuz.
Quiero expresar mis más sinceras condolencias a las familias y seres queridos de las víctimas.
Ninguna palabra puede aliviar un sufrimiento tan grande, pero quiero que sepan que…
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 18, 2026
Officials said most of the fatalities and serious injuries were concentrated in the first two carriages of the Renfe train, which bore the brunt of the impact after plunging down the embankment. The first carriage alone had 37 passengers at the time of the crash.
Emergency responders described the rescue as extremely complex due to crushed compartments, collapsed seating, and narrow access points. Firefighters confirmed that some passengers remained trapped hours after the collision, forcing teams to remove bodies to reach possible survivors carefully.
The crash occurred at approximately 7.45 pm, just minutes after the Malaga-to-Madrid train departed Cordoba. The Madrid-to-Huelva train was reportedly travelling at around 200 kilometres per hour when it was struck. The speed of the derailed train remains unclear.
Spain’s transport minister said the cause of the derailment was not yet known and described the incident as highly unusual, particularly as it happened on a straight section of track that had been renewed in May. A full investigation has been launched.
