Spain is in shock after a tragic collision between two high-speed trains in Andalusia, leaving 21 people dead and more than 70 injured. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described it as a “night of deep pain” for the nation.
The accident occurred Sunday evening near Adamuz, as a Malaga-to-Madrid train derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming service. Both trains derailed, causing chaos and leaving hundreds trapped. Spain’s rail operator Adif confirmed the details on X.
Authorities said 30 people were hospitalized in serious condition, and all injured passengers were evacuated for treatment. Transport Minister Oscar Puente called the accident “extremely strange,” noting that the first train was nearly new and the track section had recently been renovated.
Emergency teams faced immense challenges, as twisted metal trapped passengers inside the carriages. Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Cordoba, described the scene to RTVE: “We have even had to remove a dead person to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.” Some carriages had fallen down a four-meter embankment.
Passengers shared terrifying accounts. Montse, traveling on the second train to Huelva, recounted how the train came to a sudden stop in darkness. “I was thrown around, luggage tumbled, people were hurt. Children were crying,” she said. “I feel like I was given a second chance at life.”
Lucas Meriako, a survivor from the first train, described the experience as “like a horror movie,” adding that the impact felt as if the whole train would collapse.
High-speed services between Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, and Huelva were suspended Monday to allow emergency operations. Stations in these cities have set up assistance areas for relatives of the victims. Spain’s defense ministry dispatched 40 emergency personnel and 15 vehicles to aid the rescue.
Prime Minister Sanchez expressed his condolences on X: “No words can alleviate such great suffering, but the whole country stands with the victims and their families.” King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also extended their sympathy, while world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, sent messages of support.
Spain’s high-speed rail network, Europe’s largest, spans over 3,000 kilometers, connecting major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Malaga. The tragedy evokes memories of the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment, which killed 80 people and injured more than 140.
As rescue efforts continue, the human toll is at the forefront — families searching for loved ones, emergency workers risking their lives, and survivors coming to terms with an unimaginable trauma. In moments like these, the stories of courage, resilience, and compassion remind us of the human side behind the headlines.
