Deadly High-Speed Train Crash in Spain Shocks the Country

Written by: Keya Gambhir

A serious train accident happened in southern Spain on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Two high-speed trains collided near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province, leaving at least 21 people dead and dozens more injured. Officials say the total number of injured could be as high as 73, and the number of victims may rise as rescuers continue searching through the wreckage. This tragic crash has shocked Spain and the world.

The crash involved a train traveling from Málaga to Madrid, operated by a private company called Iryo, and a train traveling from Madrid to Huelva, operated by Spain’s public rail company Renfe. About ten minutes after leaving Málaga at 6:40 pm local time, the first train derailed, meaning it jumped off the tracks. It crossed onto the track of the oncoming train, and both trains collided. The impact was severe: it knocked the first two carriages of the Renfe train off the track and down a 13-foot slope. Four carriages of the Iryo train came off the rails, and some were badly mangled.

Officials say the accident happened on a straight stretch of track that had recently been repaired, which made the crash “extremely strange.” The derailed train was less than four years old. The cause of the accident is not yet known, and an official investigation could take a month. Authorities are working hard to find out why it happened and to prevent future accidents.

Passengers described a frightening experience. Salvador Jiménez, a journalist on one of the trains, said the crash felt like an “earthquake.” Some train carriages tipped completely over, and smoke filled others. Passengers had to use emergency hammers to break windows and escape safely. One passenger, Carmen, said, “Ten minutes after leaving Córdoba, the train started to shake a lot, and it derailed. The lights went out.” Another passenger shared that a train worker asked everyone to stay in their seats until it was safe and to help people who knew first aid. Many passengers used their phones to signal they were alive while waiting for rescue.

There were about 500 passengers on the two trains, with around 300 on the Málaga to Madrid train and 200 on the Madrid to Huelva train. Rescue teams, including firefighters and medical crews, rushed to the scene. Some had to remove bodies to reach survivors. Local residents helped by bringing blankets and water to the people trapped or waiting for transport. Hospitals in nearby regions offered care, and the Spanish Red Cross provided emergency support and counseling for families.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, called it “a night of deep pain.” King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following the situation with concern. Leaders from other countries, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, also sent condolences.

The crash is one of the worst train accidents in Spain in recent years. Spain has one of the largest high-speed rail networks in the world, second only to China. High-speed trains, like the Freccia 1000 used in this accident, can travel at speeds of up to 400 km/h (250 mph). While these trains are very fast, they are usually very safe, which is why this accident has shocked the nation. Spain also suffered a serious high-speed train accident in 2013 in Galicia, in the northwest, which killed 80 people and injured 140 others.

This accident shows that even modern trains can be dangerous when something goes wrong. It also highlights the bravery of rescuers, local helpers, and passengers who stayed calm and helped each other. Authorities are now focusing on caring for survivors and families and investigating what caused this terrible accident so it does not happen again.