At least 21 people lost their lives and several others were injured after a high speed Iryo train derailed and collided with another passenger train in Spain’s Cordoba province, triggering a large scale emergency response.
The accident took place near the town of Adamuz when the Iryo service, carrying nearly 300 passengers and travelling from Malaga to Madrid Puerta de Atocha, derailed at high speed, crossed onto a neighbouring track and crashed into an AVE train operating on the Madrid Huelva route. The second train was run by Spain’s state owned railway operator Renfe.
Videos shared by passengers on social media showed extensive damage to multiple carriages following the impact. Eyewitnesses described the collision as feeling like an earthquake. Several passengers were forced to break windows to escape, suffering cuts and other injuries in the process. Some travellers also reported smoke inside the coaches and required medical attention.
Spain’s rail infrastructure authority ADIF said all train services between Madrid and the Andalusia region have been suspended until further notice. It confirmed that emergency teams were deployed immediately and would continue rescue and relief operations overnight in coordination with local authorities, Renfe and Iryo.
Journalist Salvador Jimenez of public broadcaster RTVE, who was travelling on the Iryo train, said the last two carriages derailed, with one completely overturning. He said the train departed Malaga on schedule at 6.40 pm and moments later passengers felt a violent jolt as the train left the tracks, after which evacuations began by breaking windows with emergency hammers.
Emergency services remain at the site assessing the damage, assisting the injured and accounting for all passengers. The Red Cross has deployed one medical ambulance from Cordoba and three additional ambulances from Jaen, while also supplying basic necessities to passengers from both trains, according to media reports.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said he is closely monitoring the situation from the ADIF Operations Control Centre and will provide updates as verified information becomes available. Madrid regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso said hospitals and emergency teams in the Community of Madrid are on standby and ready to assist, with support staff also deployed at Madrid’s Atocha station to help relatives of those affected.
Authorities have launched an investigation to establish the exact cause of the derailment and collision.
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