Spain is reeling after a devastating collision between two high-speed trains in the south of the country. At least 39 people lost their lives, and more than 70 others were injured when one train derailed and crashed into another on Sunday (January 18). Authorities warned that the death toll could still rise.

The accident happened near the town of Adamuz, close to Cordoba, around 6:40 pm local time (17:40 GMT), about 360 kilometres south of Madrid.

How the Crash Happened

According to officials, a high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto another track. It then slammed into an oncoming train heading from Madrid to Huelva.

The derailed train was operated by private company Iryo. The second train involved in the crash was run by state-owned Renfe. Iryo said around 300 passengers were on board the train that first went off the rails.

“The Iryo 6189 Malaga - (to Madrid) train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train which was travelling on the adjacent track has also derailed,” Spain’s rail network operator Adif said in a social media post.

Reports said the Renfe train was travelling at about 200 km per hour at the time of the collision.

Casualties and Injuries Mount

Spanish media reported that the 27-year-old driver of the Renfe train was among those killed. As many as 75 people were taken to hospital, with at least 15 in serious condition, according to Reuters.

“The forcefulness of the accident has been very strong … we will likely find (more) corpses,” said Juanma Moreno, head of the Andalusia regional government.

Emergency officials said several train carriages plunged down a four-metre railway embankment, worsening the impact.

Rescue Efforts Face Major Challenges

Cordoba fire chief Francisco Carmona said the damage to the Renfe carriages was severe. Twisted metal and crushed seats trapped many passengers inside.

“The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside. We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work,” he said.

“There are still people trapped. The operation is concentrating on getting people out of areas which are very narrow,” Carmona added.

Hundreds of passengers were caught in the wreckage as rescue teams worked through the night.

Cause of Crash Still Unknown

Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the reason for the accident was not yet clear. He described it as “really strange” that the derailment happened on a straight stretch of track that had been refurbished in May last year.

Puente added that most of the casualties were in the first two carriages of the Renfe train. The first carriage had 37 passengers, while the second carried 16 people. He said it could take at least a month to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Survivors Describe Horror Moments

Passengers described scenes of terror inside the trains. Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVE who was on one of the trains, said the impact felt like an “earthquake”.

“I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed,” he said. He added that passengers used emergency hammers to break windows and escape.

Another passenger, Lucas Meriako, told La Sexta television: “this looks like a horror movie”.

“We felt a very strong hit from behind and the feeling that the whole train was about to collapse, break… there were many injured due to the glass,” he said.

“There are many injured. I am still trembling,” said Maria San José, 33, who was travelling in coach six.

A woman named Carmen wrote on X: “Ten minutes after departing [from Cordoba] the train started to shake a lot, and it derailed from coach 6 behind us. The lights went out.”

A passenger from the second train told TVE: “There were people screaming, their bags fell from the shelves. I was travelling to Huelva in the fourth carriage, the last, luckily.”

National and International Reactions

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country faced a “night of deep pain”. “No words can alleviate such great suffering, but I want them to know that the whole country is by their side in this tough moment,” he wrote on X.

The mayor of Adamuz, Rafael Moreno, who reached the site early, described the scene as “a nightmare”.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following the situation “with great concern”.

“We extend our most heartfelt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the dead, as well as our love and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured,” the royal palace said.

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also sent messages of condolence.

Rail Services Suspended, Support Mobilised

All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended after the crash and will remain closed on Monday. Troops from a nearby military base were deployed to support rescue and recovery operations.

The Spanish Red Cross sent emergency teams and counsellors to assist victims and families.

“The families are going through a situation of great anxiety due to the lack of information. These are very distressing moments,” said Miguel Ángel Rodríguez from the Red Cross.

Local residents near the crash site provided blankets and water to survivors as emergency teams continued their work.