ALBAWABA- At least 39 people were killed and more than 150 injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening, in one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in recent decades.
The crash occurred near Adamuz in Córdoba province, about 360 kilometers south of Madrid. A northbound AVE train traveling from Málaga to Madrid with roughly 300 passengers derailed on a straight section of track and plowed into an oncoming train heading from Madrid to Huelva.
The impact caused extensive destruction, scattering debris across the site as emergency teams worked through the night to rescue survivors and recover bodies.
By Monday morning, authorities confirmed 39 fatalities, with 122 to 152 people hospitalized, including 12 in intensive care. Rescue operations were still underway, and officials warned the death toll could rise.
Spain’s high-speed rail network, among the largest in Europe, has long been regarded as safe, making the incident particularly shocking.
Officials described the crash as “tremendously strange,” citing the flat terrain and advanced signaling systems managed by state-owned infrastructure operator Adif. Investigators are examining a possible technical failure, while human error or sabotage have not been ruled out.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene early Monday, offering condolences and announcing three days of national mourning. “We will carry out a thorough and fully transparent investigation to uncover the truth,” he said, pledging support for victims’ families and renewed attention to rail safety.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente ordered a comprehensive review of the AVE system, while the European Union offered technical assistance.
