At least 39 people were killed and about 152 others were injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday, according to officials. The crash occurred near Adamuz after a train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto an adjacent track, where it struck another train heading from Madrid to Huelva.
Spain’s transport minister said the death toll rose from an earlier figure of 21 and may increase further as rescue teams continue searching the wreckage. Of those injured, at least 75 were hospitalized, with 15 reported in very serious condition and five in life-threatening condition.
Emergency crews worked through the night under difficult conditions, while rail traffic between Madrid and the Andalusia region was fully suspended. Spain’s prime minister is expected to visit the crash site as the investigation continues.
The derailment occurred on a straight stretch of track that had recently undergone extensive renovation work completed in May, a detail officials described as “extremely strange.” The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
Iryo, the operator of the train that initially derailed, said there were about 300 passengers onboard at the time and that it had activated all emergency protocols, working closely with authorities to manage the aftermath.