On Sunday at 6:40 Irish time, two high-speed passenger trains collided near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province, Andalusia, southern Spain. The incident resulted in at least 39 fatalities and over 100 injuries, marking the country’s most serious rail accident since the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment.
The first train involved was an Iryo service (train 6189) traveling from Málaga to Madrid-Puerta de Atocha. It carried around 300–317 passengers. Shortly after departing Córdoba station, the rear three carriages (cars 6–8) derailed on a straight section of track near Adamuz. These derailed cars crossed onto the adjacent track, where they collided head-on with an oncoming Renfe Alvia train (train 2384) traveling from Madrid to Huelva, which had approximately 100 passengers on board.
The impact caused the front two carriages of the Renfe train to derail and fall approximately 4 meters (13 feet) down an embankment. Rescue operations involved firefighters, the Spanish Civil Guard, ambulances, the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), and medical teams, continuing into the night and early hours of January 19. A temporary reception center was established in Adamuz to provide shelter, food, and support to survivors.
As of January 19, 2026, authorities reported 39 confirmed deaths, including the driver of the Renfe Alvia train. Injury figures included 122 people treated, with 48 hospitalized (12–24 in serious or intensive care condition, including some children). The death toll may be subject to further confirmation as operations proceeded.
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the event as “extremely strange,” noting it occurred on a recently renovated straight section of track (upgraded in May 2025) and involved a relatively new Iryo train (manufactured in 2022 and last inspected on January 15, 2026). He indicated that human error was unlikely due to existing safety systems, though the precise cause remains under investigation. A judicial inquiry has been assigned to the Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 2 in Montoro, Córdoba, with a full technical analysis expected to take at least a month.
High-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia (including routes to Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, and Huelva) were suspended on January 19. Support was provided at major stations such as Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha, with alternative arrangements offered to affected passengers.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences, stating it was “a night of deep pain for our country,” and planned to visit the site on January 19. Messages of solidarity came from European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen.
Spain’s high-speed rail network, one of the world’s most extensive and safest, carries tens of millions of passengers annually with a strong safety record. This incident has prompted national attention and ongoing monitoring of the investigation. Support resources remain available for victims’ families through operators Iryo and Renfe.
