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Spain - Serious train accident: 39 dead after derailment near Córdoba

iryo train @iryo.eu

Following the derailment of two high-speed trains at Adamuz near Córdoba, 39 people died and more than 150 were injured. Investigations are ongoing.

Following the serious railway accident on the Spanish mainland, the death toll has risen to 39. The derailment of two high-speed trains near the municipality of Adamuz in the province of Córdoba also left more than 150 people injured, several of them critically. This was confirmed by Spanish authorities on Monday.

The accident occurred on Sunday evening at around 7.45 pm on a central north-south axis of the Spanish high-speed rail network. A train belonging to the private operator Iryo, travelling from Málaga to Madrid-Puerta de Atocha, derailed in the area of a set of points shortly before entering Adamuz station. As a result, the train ended up on the neighbouring track, where another high-speed train bound for Huelva was located. This train also derailed.

Central transport link affected

The accident has a direct impact on high-speed transport between Madrid and Andalusia. The infrastructure operator Adif temporarily suspended services to Córdoba, Seville, Málaga and Huelva. Since then, travellers from other regions of Spain - including those from the Costa Blanca with connections via Madrid - have experienced considerable restrictions and diversions.

Rescue operations and medical care

Immediately after the accident, a large-scale rescue operation was triggered. Several mobile intensive care units, ambulances and logistical units were deployed. A medical operations base was set up in an Adif technical building, where the injured were sighted, stabilised and distributed to surrounding hospitals.

The Unidad Militar de Emergencias deployed around 40 soldiers and heavy equipment to the scene of the accident to support the civilian emergency services. Several hospitals in Andalusia and neighbouring regions provided additional capacity.

Root cause analysis underway

The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, explained that the state commission for the investigation of railway accidents had taken over the investigation. The identification of the fatalities is being coordinated centrally by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Córdoba. The recovery work is continuing and is proving difficult due to the massive damage to the trains.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced a visit to the accident site on Monday.

Reactions at national level

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock and assured the families of the victims of his support. Several political appointments at national and regional level were cancelled. The Andalusian state government also temporarily suspended its institutional agenda.

Investigations into the exact cause of the accident are ongoing. Further official information is expected in the coming days.