A tragic collision of high-speed train in southern Spain which happened on Sunday evening that has resulted to a lot of deaths with at least 21 people and left dozens of more injured.

The devastating incident occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Cordoba, disrupting rail services and drawing widespread concern from authorities and the public.

The catastrophe unfolded approximately ten minutes after a high-speed train, operated by private rail company Iryo, departed Malaga at 18:40 local time (17:40 GMT) en route to Madrid.

The Cause of The Incident

Spain’s rail network operator, Adif, stated that, a train traveling in the opposite direction, from Mardid to Huelva, collided with the first high-speed train, resulting in the tragic accident.

According to Andalusian emergency services, at least 25 people sustained serious injuries, while many others suffered minor injuries. The country’s state-owned broadcaster reported that, around 100 people were injured in total, 25 who were critically hurt.

Footage from the scene showed emergency responders, medical personnel, and fire services actively involved in rescue operations. A witness reported that one of the carriages of the first train was completely overturned.

Passengers who were on board described the incident as one of the most terrifying moments of their lives. Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVEwho was seated in the first carriage of one of the trains, said the derailment felt “like an earthquake.’

Emergency calls were made immediately, and passengers reportedly used hammers to break windows to aid evacuation before rescue teams arrived.

One passenger, Carmen, who was also on the train, shared on X that about ten minutes after departing from Córdoba the train began to shake violently before derailing from coach 6. She added that the lights went out, while Iryo staff were seen in video footage instructing passengers to remain seated as first aid trained individuals monitored the situation.

The staff emphasized that the safest place at the time was inside the train and advised passengers to conserve their mobile phone batteries for use as torches during disembarkation. Reports also indicated that some carriages were filled with smoke, prompting calls for medical assistance.

Approximately 300 passengers were believed to be on the Malaga-bound Iryo train, with Spanish media estimating a total of around 400 people across affected both trains. Following the accident, Adif immediately suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia.

The King and Queen of Spain Expressed Their Condolences To The Victims

Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed the death roll, While King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia conveyed their deepest sympathies to the affected families and wished the injured a swift recovery.

Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, stated he was "closely monitoring" the situation and reaffirmed the government's commitment to working with emergency services to support those affected. Juanma Moreno, President of the Andalusian regional government, also expressed concern and solidarity with victims and their families.

Meanwhile, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid region, announced that Madrid hospitals were on the standby to assist the Andalucía if required. , Italian-run private rail operator Iryo confirmed the derailment but did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.