More than 20 people killed in high-speed train crash in southern Spain, officials estimate.
In a tragic incident that has shaken Spain, a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday. The crash occurred near Córdoba at approximately 7:45 PM local time, leading to the confirmed deaths of at least 21 individuals and leaving many others injured. Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced the death toll following extensive rescue operations that confirmed all survivors had been evacuated from the scene.
The train involved in the accident was traveling from Malaga to Madrid and was carrying around 300 passengers when the rear of the train veered off the tracks. It subsequently collided with another train, which was transporting approximately 200 passengers from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city. The national rail operator, ADIF, provided details of the incident, highlighting the severity of the collision.
In an update early Monday morning, Minister Puente indicated that the situation could be more dire, suggesting that additional victims may still need to be counted. Reports from emergency services in Andalucía, the region where the derailing occurred, revealed that at least 25 individuals sustained severe injuries. The response from local authorities included the mobilization of emergency personnel to the challenging site of the accident, as articulated by María Belén Moya Rojas, the regional Civil Protection chief.
Eyewitness accounts from journalists present on one of the trains described a chaotic scene. Salvador Jiménez, a reporter for the Spanish broadcaster RTVE, recounted feeling significant shaking, akin to an earthquake, as the train derailed. Passengers reported using emergency hammers to break windows, with some managing to exit the train without major injuries amidst the wreckage.
In a poignant reflection of European solidarity, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her condolences through a message on X, noting that her thoughts were with those affected by the tragedy.
In the aftermath of the derailment, ADIF announced the suspension of train services between Madrid and various destinations in Andalucia for the following day to facilitate ongoing investigations and recovery efforts.
This catastrophic event underscores ongoing concerns regarding rail safety in Spain, a country that has invested heavily in high-speed rail infrastructure. The implications of this tragic accident will likely prompt discussions on the need for comprehensive reviews of safety protocols and infrastructure assessments in the rail sector.
