Spanish high-speed train crash kills dozens, PM vows full investigation

The Spanish high-speed train crash has shocked the nation after two trains collided in southern Spain, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 120. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pledged to uncover the exact cause of the tragedy, promising full transparency as Spain enters three days of national mourning.

The collision occurred on Sunday evening near Adamuz, close to the city of Córdoba, when a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed onto opposite tracks, striking an oncoming service.

Prime minister promises transparent investigation

After visiting the crash site, Sánchez addressed the nation, describing the incident as a moment of deep national grief.

“We are going to find the truth. We will make the causes public with absolute clarity,” Sánchez said.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente confirmed that investigators could take at least a month to determine responsibility, calling the circumstances “extremely strange.”

What happened on the tracks near Córdoba

Rail operator Adif said the crash happened at 19:45 local time, roughly one hour after the Málaga–Madrid train departed. The train derailed on a straight section of track before colliding with another high-speed service traveling from Madrid to Huelva.

Puente said the impact forced several carriages into an embankment, with most fatalities occurring in the front cars of the second train.

Early findings point to possible track fault

According to a source briefed on the preliminary investigation, experts discovered a faulty rail joint that may have widened under pressure as trains passed. Investigators are assessing whether the defect caused the derailment or resulted from the crash.

Spain’s El País reported that officials have not yet confirmed the fault as the definitive cause.

For background on rail safety standards, see Adif’s infrastructure oversight role and EU railway safety regulations (outbound links recommended).

Rescue efforts and survivor accounts

Emergency crews worked through twisted metal to reach trapped passengers. A total of 400 people, including staff, were aboard the two trains.

Journalist Salvador Jiménez, who survived the crash, said the impact felt like an earthquake.
“There was screaming everywhere. People called for doctors,” another passenger told Canal Sur.

As of Monday, 41 people remained hospitalized, including 12 in intensive care.

National mourning and service suspensions

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia offered condolences, saying they followed the tragedy “with great concern.” Authorities suspended all high-speed rail services between Madrid and Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Huelva until Friday.

The Andalusian emergency agency urged survivors to contact relatives, while the Red Cross provided counseling to families.

Spain’s rail network under scrutiny

The crash marks Spain’s deadliest rail disaster in over a decade. In 2013, a derailment in Galicia killed 80 people. Spain operates Europe’s second-largest high-speed rail network, spanning more than 4,000 kilometers and connecting over 50 cities.