A collision between two trains in southern Spain has killed at least 39 people, with authorities warning that the casualty figures are “not final”.
A high-speed Iryo train, which was travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed in the Córdoba province at around 7.45pm on Sunday (18 January) and then collided with a Renfe train on an adjacent track. This second train, which had been travelling from Madrid to Huelva, also derailed.
Authorities said the crash was Spain’s worst rail accident in more than a decade, with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez calling it “a night of deep pain for our country”.
The two trains were carrying a total of around 400 passengers, with emergency services treating more than 100 people following the incident, including 12 who remain in intensive care in hospital.
Adif, which runs Spain’s rail infrastructure, said in a statement that all high-speed rail services between Madrid and Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, Huelva, Cádiz, Algeciras and Granada would remain suspended until at least the end of Monday (19 January).
“Once it is possible to remove the affected trains, Adif will evaluate the damage to the infrastructure and mobilise all the technical and human resources necessary to restore circulation,” added Adif.
Iryo said in a statement that service 6189 had left Malaga at 6.40pm on Sunday and was carrying around 300 people at the time of the derailment.
“Iryo deeply regrets what happened and has activated all emergency protocols, collaborating closely with the competent authorities to manage the situation,” added the train operator.