What to know about the train crash in Spain

At least 40 people were killed and more than 150 injured after a high-speed train derailed and collided with another train in southern Spain on Sunday evening, marking the country’s deadliest rail disaster in over a decade.

The accident occurred at 7:45 p.m. when the rear carriages of a train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz in Cordoba province, approximately 230 miles south of the capital. The derailed train then collided with an oncoming train traveling from Madrid to Huelva.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the front section of the second train bore the brunt of the impact, with its first two carriages being knocked off the track and sent plunging down a 13-foot slope. The violent collision scattered debris across a wide area.

“The impact was so incredibly violent that we have found bodies hundreds of meters away,” said Andalusia’s regional President Juan Manuel Moreno, who added that rescue efforts continued through Monday morning as authorities searched the surrounding area for additional victims.

Officials warned that the death toll could rise as recovery operations progress. This tragic incident is Spain’s worst rail disaster since 2013, when 80 people died after a commuter train derailed while navigating a curve at excessive speed.

The investigation into the cause of Sunday’s crash is ongoing, but early reports suggest unusual circumstances. Minister Puente described the incident as “truly strange,” noting that it occurred on a flat section of track that had been renovated just this May. He also pointed out that the train that initially derailed was less than four years old.

The derailed train belonged to private operator Iryo, which stated on Monday that the train was manufactured in 2022 and had passed its most recent safety inspection on January 15. The second train involved in the collision was operated by Spain’s public rail company, Renfe.

Questions about track maintenance have emerged following the crash. The Spanish Union of Railway Drivers revealed that in August, it had sent a letter to Spain’s national railway operator requesting investigations into potential flaws on train lines across the country. The union had recommended reducing speeds at certain points until tracks could be fully repaired, including on the high-speed line where Sunday’s accident occurred.

However, Álvaro Fernández, president of Renfe, told Spanish public radio RNE that both trains were operating well below the speed limit of 155 mph at the time of the accident. He suggested that “human error could be ruled out,” though investigators have yet to determine an official cause.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy.

The accident represents a rare catastrophic failure in Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network, which has maintained an exceptional safety record since its inception. Spain boasts Europe’s largest high-speed rail network, with over 2,400 miles of track capable of supporting trains traveling at speeds exceeding 155 mph, according to the International Union of Railways.

The country has invested heavily in rail infrastructure since opening its first high-speed line in 1992, developing it into a popular, affordable, and generally safe transportation option. Sunday’s crash marks the first fatal accident on Spain’s high-speed rail network in its 32-year history.

As the investigation continues, transportation authorities will be examining whether this represents an isolated incident or if it points to broader safety concerns within Spain’s otherwise exemplary rail system. The findings could have implications for rail safety protocols across Europe, where high-speed networks continue to expand as an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel.