January 19, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Adamuz, Spain — A catastrophic collision between two high-speed passenger trains in southern Spain has left at least 39 people dead and scores injured, marking one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in more than a decade. Authorities warn the toll could rise as rescue teams continue to comb wreckage and identify victims.
The crash occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, January 18, 2026, near the municipality of Adamuz in the province of Córdoba, when a high-speed Iryo train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and encroached onto an adjacent track, colliding with an oncoming Renfe Alvia service bound for Huelva.
Emergency responders described scenes of overwhelming devastation. Some carriages overturned or plunged down embankments, while others were left heavily deformed; in many cases, rescuers had to work through twisted metal to reach trapped passengers.
Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that at least 152 people have been injured, including dozens in serious or critical condition. Victims — among whom were children — have been transported to hospitals in Córdoba and surrounding cities for treatment, authorities said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the collision a “night of deep pain” for the nation, announcing a period of mourning and pledging full government support for the victims’ families. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia expressed their “great concern” and sympathy for those affected.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente has described the crash as “highly unusual,” given that the collision occurred on a recently renovated straight section of track and involved relatively new rolling stock. He acknowledged that the current investigation has yet to determine the precise cause of the derailment and subsequent head-on collision.
Rescue operations were complicated by the location of the accident in a remote, olive-grove region with limited road access. Spanish military emergency units and local firefighters joined civil guard personnel in extracting victims, stabilizing the injured and searching through debris for survivors and the missing.
Officials have established support centres at major train stations including Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, Málaga and Huelva to assist families seeking information about loved ones. DNA collection and identification efforts are underway amid expectations that the death toll could rise as recovery continues.
The collision has prompted renewed scrutiny of Spain’s high-speed rail network, widely regarded as one of Europe’s largest and most advanced. Despite heavy investment and generally strong safety records, rail experts expressed shock at an accident occurring on straight, upgraded track with modern equipment.
This tragedy evokes painful memories of the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment, in which 80 people were killed and more than 140 injured the worst high-speed rail disaster on Spanish soil before Sunday’s collision.
As authorities continue their investigation, the nation grapples with the human toll of this disaster and the urgent questions it raises about rail safety, infrastructure integrity and emergency preparedness on one of the continent’s busiest travel corridors.
### What We Know So Far
– Location: Adamuz, Córdoba, Spain
– Date & Time: Jan. 18, 2026, ~7:30 p.m. local time
– Fatalities: At least 39 and rising
– Injured: More than 150, including serious and critical cases
– Trains Involved: Private Iryo service (Málaga–Madrid); State-owned Renfe Alvia (Madrid–Huelva)
– Investigation: Ongoing, cause still undetermined