A high-speed train crash in southern Spain has left at least 39 people dead after two trains collided on Sunday night, sending the country into a "night of deep pain." The Iryo train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz in Córdoba province, crossing onto the other track where it hit an oncoming Adif train.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one passenger recounting how the impact felt like an earthquake and others using emergency hammers to break carriage windows. The train was carrying approximately 300 people at the time of the accident, with many trapped in debris or injured.
Firefighters and civil guards worked tirelessly to evacuate those trapped, but their efforts have been hindered by the extent of the damage. The second train, operated by Renfe, also derailed and went down an embankment, causing further destruction.
The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, with Spain's transport minister describing it as "really strange" that a derailment occurred on a straight stretch of track, which was renewed in May. Most of those killed and injured were in the first two carriages of the second train.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene, calling it a "night of deep pain for our country." The king and queen also followed the developments with concern. A reception center has been set up for passengers in Adamuz, where locals have brought food and blankets to comfort those affected.
The accident brings back memories of Spain's deadliest rail crash this century, which occurred in July 2013 when a train traveling at 111mph derailed on a stretch of track with a 50mph speed limit, killing 80 people.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one passenger recounting how the impact felt like an earthquake and others using emergency hammers to break carriage windows. The train was carrying approximately 300 people at the time of the accident, with many trapped in debris or injured.
Firefighters and civil guards worked tirelessly to evacuate those trapped, but their efforts have been hindered by the extent of the damage. The second train, operated by Renfe, also derailed and went down an embankment, causing further destruction.
The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, with Spain's transport minister describing it as "really strange" that a derailment occurred on a straight stretch of track, which was renewed in May. Most of those killed and injured were in the first two carriages of the second train.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene, calling it a "night of deep pain for our country." The king and queen also followed the developments with concern. A reception center has been set up for passengers in Adamuz, where locals have brought food and blankets to comfort those affected.
The accident brings back memories of Spain's deadliest rail crash this century, which occurred in July 2013 when a train traveling at 111mph derailed on a stretch of track with a 50mph speed limit, killing 80 people.
oh my gosh, this is so sad the thought of all those people hurt or worse is just heartbreaking how did two trains even collide like that in a straight line? 
was it just bad luck or was something wrong with the track that made it happen? and what's going on with the investigation, when will they figure out what happened? i feel so bad for the passengers who had to go through that traumatic experience 
also, why did no one see anything suspicious before the crash? was there a red flag somewhere that we didn't notice? 
... how could something like this happen in a country with such good infrastructure and safety record? 
i know there's no clear reason yet, but 300 people trapped in debris or injured is just... *shakes head*... and those eyewitnesses who used emergency hammers to break carriage windows... that's just crazy 
... my thoughts are with the families of the victims and everyone affected by this tragedy 
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I was traveling to Madrid from Málaga last year and I passed by Córdoba, the thought of what happened there is just... ugh 
my heart goes out to all those families who lost loved ones, it's like a nightmare come true. I remember hearing about the 2013 rail crash, it's crazy how two trains can collide at such high speeds and still manage to kill so many people 
. But imagine if they were on the second train that derailed... 39 people are gone 
. Anyway, Spain is having a tough time right now, and we should all be like "sending love" to the victims' families 
. This reminds me of that other train accident in 2013... ugh, too much train tragedy 
. Can't wait for the investigation to figure out what happened 
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those poor souls who lost their lives it's just devastating 
it's like, can't we learn from history here? 
I mean seriously 111mph is FAST ENOUGH who needs to go that fast anyway?! 
and then the fact that people were trapped under debris or injured and those firefighters had to work so hard to get them out 
it's just heartbreaking 
I'm all for a thorough investigation but come on let's not leave anyone hanging 
what kind of safety measures are they taking to prevent these kinds of accidents from happening again? and its so crazy that the accident happened on a straight stretch of track, how do trains get derailed even with those speeds?! and the fact that many were trapped in debris or injured makes me think we need better emergency response systems in place 
and it's just heartbreaking 
They say they're investigating but I'm still thinking about all those people trapped in debris 
there should be some sort of investigation into why a derailment happened on such a clear stretch of track. and those windows getting smashed open with emergency hammers sounds super intense 
. The fact that it happened on a straight stretch of track where the trains were supposed to be moving at a safe speed makes it even more baffling 
. The Spanish government should really take a closer look at the cause of this accident and make sure to learn from it, so that something like this never happens again 
, and to the Spanish people as they come together to comfort each other during this difficult time 
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At least 39 people are gone and the thought of all those passengers being trapped in debris is just heartbreaking 
but this makes me think we should be grateful for the safety measures in place here in the US. Our trains are so much safer than Spain's 