Spain declares three days of mourning after high-speed train collision kills at least 40 people in the southern region.
Spain is holding three days of national mourning after a high-speed train collision in southern Spain kills at least 40 people, marking the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than a decade.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announces the mourning period on Monday and pledges a full and transparent investigation into why two high-speed trains collide near Adamuz, close to Córdoba. Rescue teams continue working through twisted wreckage as hopes fade for those trapped inside.
More than 120 people are injured when a Madrid-bound train derails on a straight stretch of track on Sunday evening and crosses onto the opposite line, colliding with an oncoming service travelling south toward Huelva. Rail operator Adif says the crash occurs at 19:45 local time, roughly an hour after the Málaga-to-Madrid train departs.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente says the force of the impact pushes several carriages into an embankment, with most fatalities and serious injuries concentrated in the front cars of the second train. Emergency services treat 122 people, while 41 remain in hospital, including 12 in intensive care. Officials warn the death toll is not yet final.
Sánchez visits the crash site alongside senior officials, describing the incident as a moment of national grief and vowing to uncover the truth behind the tragedy. An official investigation is expected to take at least a month, with early reports pointing to a possible fault in a rail joint, though it remains unclear whether this caused the crash or resulted from it.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and several southern cities remain suspended as authorities assess the damage. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia express their condolences, while the Red Cross provides emergency support and counselling to victims’ families.