Railway disaster in Spain: what is known so far

Spain shocked train accidentwhich occurred on Sunday evening: according to the latest data, at least 39 peoplemore 150 were injured. Rescue and search operations continue, and the causes of the accident remain unknown.

Newspaper El País has compiled key information about what is known so far.

How the accident happened

IN 19:45 (local time) Sunday train Iryocoming from Malaga to the station Atocha (Madrid) With 317 passengersderailed near Adamus (Cordoba) and went out onto the neighboring paths. At that moment a train was traveling in the opposite direction. Alviaheading from Madrid V Huelvawith approximately 100 passengers. As a result, a collision occurred and the subsequent derailment of the second train.

Eyewitness video from a train derailment site in southern Spain showed damaged train carriages, with at least one leaning slightly at an angle. The video also showed inside a carriage and an official speaking to them#Spain #SpainTrainCrash #accident #TrainDerailment pic.twitter.com/6601eGv6e4

— WION (@WIONews) January 19, 2026

According to official data, at the time of the collision Alvia moved at a speed of about 200 km/h. Minister of Transport Oscar Puente reported that the first two cars Alviain which they were 53 people“were discarded from the rest of the composition“

Iryo – a high-speed train operated by a private company. Alvia owned by the national public railway operator of Spain RENFE. It is specified that the company was created in 2005 following the division of the former national railway system into Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF)responsible for infrastructure, and Renfe-Operadoraresponsible for transportation.

Number of victims and injured

? DIRECTO | La Guardia Civil busca evidencias que puedan servir para la identificación de víctimas y para la investigación del accidente ferroviario en Adamuz https://t.co/UbOTMTbkF2 pic.twitter.com/roi4iTXs3R

— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) January 19, 2026

According to current data, at least 39 people. According to Europa Press citing sources, the number of victims is 152.

Head of the regional government Andalusia Juan Manuel Moreno informed about the condition of the wounded taken to hospitals in the region. From 48 those remaining in hospitals, 12 are being treated in intensive care units in the city Cordoba. Among the victims – five childrenhospitalized Reina Sofia in Cordoba; one child is in resuscitation.

Among the dead – 27 year old driver trains Alvia. Besides, 30 The victims were taken to hospitals in serious condition.

Chief of the Cordova Fire Department Paco Carmona said that rescuers rescued people from “cuts, bruises, sprains, open fractures“, while access to the most damaged cars was complicated by “metal pile“

Mayor Adamus Rafael Moreno stated El Paísthat upon arrival at the place I saw “picture of absolute destruction“

Causes of the accident

At the moment, the reasons for the train derailment remain unknown and will be established by the commission responsible for the investigation. Minister Oscar Puente at a press conference in the morning, after consultations with “railway specialists,” he called the incident “extremely strange“, since the accident occurred on “straight section of the route“, the train that derailed was “almost new, less than four years old“, and the line itself – “completely modernized“

According to the statement, the project was invested 700 million eurosand upgrades to this area “completed last May.” It is also reported that the train Iryowhose last carriages derailed, was undergoing inspection January 15.

What survivors said

Maria San Jose33 years old, traveling by train Iryo (Malaga-Madrid), said that first the passengers felt a vibration, then “a lot of strong shocks“, the luggage began to fall until the train stopped. “When we got out, we saw carriages derailed and two carriages of another train overturned.“, she said.

Santiago44 years old, reported that the train began to sway from side to side and then stopped. “When I came out, I saw the deceased. We tried to get to car number one, but there was debris there. People called for help, we tried to get them out, but it was very difficult“, he said, adding that it took emergency services about hoursto get to the place.

Maria Vidal32 years old, traveling on Iryodescribed what was happening as “earthquake“: “Everything was shaking, the lights suddenly went out. The Iryo staff asked if there were doctors who could go to cars 6, 7 and 8. I was in car 4. We stayed inside for about 40 minutes. I saw people in very serious condition“, she said.

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