At least 40 people have lost their lives in a devastating train crash that took place in southern Spain, the worst rail disaster to hit the country in over a decade. The accident occurred on Sunday evening when two high-speed trains collided near the city of Córdoba, leaving dozens more injured.
The incident happened at around 19:45 local time when one of the trains derailed and crossed over to the opposite track before colliding with an oncoming train travelling from south Madrid to Huelva. The majority of those killed were in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train, while many more were injured.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene on Monday and announced a three-day mourning period for the victims. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, but officials say it may be months before the results are known.
What is not yet clear is what caused the trains to derail in the first place. Officials have described the incident as "extremely strange" and say that all experts consulted by the government are baffled by the accident. The president of Spain's state-owned rail operator, Renfe, has suggested a mechanical fault or infrastructure issue may be to blame.
Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to search for survivors among the wreckage, but many of those who were on board the trains remain trapped inside the carriages due to twisted metal and debris. The victims' identities have not yet been released, with officials saying that some people are still being treated in hospital.
Passengers described the moment of impact as feeling like an "earthquake" and said it shattered the train's windows, displaced luggage and threw people to the floor. Those who were on board the trains told of chaos and confusion as they tried to make sense of what had happened.
The full extent of the devastation is still coming to light, but one thing is clear - this has been a tragedy for Spain and its people.
The incident happened at around 19:45 local time when one of the trains derailed and crossed over to the opposite track before colliding with an oncoming train travelling from south Madrid to Huelva. The majority of those killed were in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train, while many more were injured.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene on Monday and announced a three-day mourning period for the victims. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, but officials say it may be months before the results are known.
What is not yet clear is what caused the trains to derail in the first place. Officials have described the incident as "extremely strange" and say that all experts consulted by the government are baffled by the accident. The president of Spain's state-owned rail operator, Renfe, has suggested a mechanical fault or infrastructure issue may be to blame.
Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to search for survivors among the wreckage, but many of those who were on board the trains remain trapped inside the carriages due to twisted metal and debris. The victims' identities have not yet been released, with officials saying that some people are still being treated in hospital.
Passengers described the moment of impact as feeling like an "earthquake" and said it shattered the train's windows, displaced luggage and threw people to the floor. Those who were on board the trains told of chaos and confusion as they tried to make sense of what had happened.
The full extent of the devastation is still coming to light, but one thing is clear - this has been a tragedy for Spain and its people.
I cant believe how devastating this accident is 
, 40+ lives lost? It's just too much 
. And what's really got me thinking is that the trains derailed on their own before colliding with the other train... was it a mechanical issue or something more? 
. Officials say they're still baffled by the accident, and I don't blame them one bit 
. The fact that rescue teams are still searching for survivors among the wreckage is just heartbreaking 
. I'm sure Spain will get through this, but it's going to take some time 
. One thing that's for sure is that this accident has left us all in shock 
. It just goes to show how much technology and safety measures have improved over the years 
. Still, you can never be too careful when it comes to something as critical as our transportation systems 
.
. This is just a tragic reminder of how fragile life can be 
.
The fact that officials are saying it might be months before they figure out what caused the crash is just frustrating. Like, can't we get some answers soon? 
And those passengers who were trapped in the wreckage... poor guys, still waiting for help to come through. It's like, why did this have to happen here and now? 
. This tragedy is not just for Spain, it's also for all of us who are lucky enough to be safe - let's hope we can learn something from this and improve our rail systems before more lives are lost 
.
.
anyway i'm sure the government will get to the bottom of this mechanical fault or infrastructure issue and make sure something like this never happens again 
and their vending machine game is on another level... I swear, you can buy everything from underwear to fresh bread from those things! 
And have you ever tried to find a good cup of coffee while traveling? It's like a mission! Anyway, I was thinking about how much we take our transportation systems for granted here in the West... I mean, train crashes are pretty rare in countries with well-maintained infrastructure. 
how could something like this happen? 
and what really gets me is that no one knows what caused the derailment yet 
my thoughts are with all those affected by this train crash in southern Spain... it's just heartbreaking to think about 40 lives lost 
... this whole thing feels like a "Fast & Furious" movie gone wrong 
, but instead of high-octane action, it's real-life human suffering 
... Spain, I hope you're getting the support and help you need during this dark time 