At Least 21 Dead in High-Speed Train Collision in Southern Spain
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At least 21 people have died and approximately 25 sustained serious injuries after a devastating collision between two high-speed trains in Adamuz, Córdoba, Spain, on Sunday, January 18, 2026. An undetermined number of individuals remain potentially trapped, according to initial reports.
Derailment and Collision Details
The accident unfolded when a train operated by Iryo, en route to Madrid, derailed shortly after departing Málaga. The derailed train subsequently encroached onto an adjacent track, directly into the path of a Renfe Alvia train traveling from Madrid to Huelva. This second train also derailed following the impact.
A senior official explained that the final carriages of the Iryo train had veered onto the opposite track, leading to the collision with the Renfe high-speed train. The force of the impact ejected two carriages from the Renfe convoy, contributing to the rising death toll. “The fundamental thing now is to help the victims,” the official stated.
Official Response and Investigation
The Minister of Transport, Oscar Puente, is closely monitoring the situation from the H24 Network Management Center of Adif, the state railway infrastructure company, in Madrid. Puente described the information emerging from Córdoba as “very serious.”
The Spanish Royal House has expressed its “great concern” regarding the “serious train accident.” King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia conveyed their “deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, as well as our affection and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured” in a statement released on social media.
Here is a photograph shared by a witness at the scene:
https://twitter.com/eleanorinthesky/status/1758687654321098752
Another witness shared images and offered assistance to those seeking information about loved ones:
https://twitter.com/eleanorinthesky/status/1758688234567890123
Travel Disruptions and Support for Passengers
Adif announced that high-speed rail traffic between Madrid and Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, Granada, and Huelva will remain suspended for at least the entirety of Monday, January 19, 2026.
The company stated via X (formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/Adif_es/status/1758690123456789012
Stations in Atocha (Madrid), Seville, Córdoba, and Málaga will remain open overnight to accommodate stranded passengers unable to complete their journeys.
The scale of this tragedy underscores the critical importance of railway safety and the need for thorough investigations into the causes of such devastating accidents. .
