Spain has begun three days of national mourning following a tragic train collision that resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals, marking the country’s deadliest train accident in over a decade.
The calamity occurred late Sunday when a high-speed train operated by Iryo, en route from Malaga to Madrid, derailed near Adamuz in southern Andalusia. It veered onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming train, which also derailed.
The death toll rose to 41 after one more passenger’s body was recovered from an Iryo carriage on Monday evening, according to regional government officials. More than 120 people sustained injuries, with 39 individuals, including four children, remaining hospitalized.
As part of the mourning period, flags flew at half-mast on public buildings, news anchors donned black attire, and cabinet ministers minimized public engagements. On-site emergency response teams deployed heavy machinery to assist in lifting the severely damaged carriages for easier access by rescue workers.
Juan Manuel Moreno, head of the Andalusian regional government, stated that it would take an additional 24-48 hours “to know with certainty how many fatalities have resulted from this tragic incident.”
Aerial footage from Spain’s Guardia Civil displayed the significant distance between the two trains as rescuers, clad in high-visibility vests, worked diligently. Among the survivors is a six-year-old girl who tragically lost her parents, brother, and cousin in the crash, according to reports from Spanish media.
The 27-year-old driver of one of the trains was also among the deceased, as confirmed by the daily newspaper El País. The collision transpired in a remote, hilly area known for its olive groves, where access for ambulances proved challenging due to the single-track road.
Firefighter Angel Uceda, one of the first responders, recounted the distressing scene to Onda Cero radio, describing his experience navigating the wreckage while hearing mobile phones ring beside injured individuals. “It was harrowing, but we had to do our job,” he said.
Officials reported that, in contrast to the 2013 accident, this derailment occurred on a straight section of track, with both trains within the speed limit. Transport Minister Oscar Puente emphasized that the first train to derail was nearly new, and the track had recently been renovated, making the incident particularly unexpected.
Iryo reported that around 300 passengers were onboard the train from Malaga to Madrid, while Renfe, the operator of the second train headed to Huelva, confirmed it was carrying 184 passengers at the time.
Human error has “practically been ruled out,” asserted Renfe President Alvaro Fernandez Heredia on Spanish public radio RNE. He further dismissed speeding as a factor, noting that both trains were traveling just over 200 kilometers per hour, below the 250 kilometers per hour limit for that section.
Spain boasts the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, spanning over 3,000 kilometers and connecting major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Malaga.
In Adamuz, as news of the tragedy spread, local residents rushed to the town hall with supplies. “We started bringing water, blankets, everything we could,” said Manuel Munoz, a 60-year-old worker at an olive oil factory.
Expressions of condolences have poured in from various leaders, including Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron.
