Major accident in Spain: 21 people died in collision between high-speed trains, 30 in critical condition

Madrid, January 19. A tragic rail accident occurred near the city of Cordoba, located in the southern part of Spain, in which two high-speed trains collided head-on. Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said on Monday that at least 21 people have been confirmed dead in the accident, while more than 70 passengers are said to be injured. Of these, the condition of 30 is critical and they have been admitted to the hospital. A high-speed train traveling from Málaga to Madrid, carrying a total of 317 passengers, derailed for unknown reasons near the Adamuz area, about 20 kilometers from Córdoba.

After the derailment, the train collided with another high-speed train on a nearby line, traveling from Madrid to Huelva. Due to this collision, the carriages of the other train also derailed. Minister Puente described the accident as terrible and said that the last two carriages of the Málaga-Madrid train collided with the first two carriages of the oncoming train, causing heavy damage to both trains. As soon as the news of the incident was received, the emergency services of the Andalusia region reached the spot.

Local people also extended a helping hand and took the slightly injured passengers to a nearby centre, where first aid was administered. Spain’s military emergency unit was also deployed in relief and rescue operations. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed deep sorrow over the accident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. He wrote on the social media platform ‘X’ that this is a very painful night for the country.

The royal family of Spain has also issued a condolence message. Officials said that the rescue work continued till late night and the number of dead is expected to increase. Services on the affected rail routes will remain closed until at least Tuesday. Railway company Edif has also issued information centers and a helpline number for the relatives of passengers in Madrid’s Atocha station, Málaga and Huelva. Let us tell you that Spain’s biggest railway accident happened in July 2013, when 79 people died when a train derailed due to excessive speed.