By SUNTV Global Channel
January 19, 2026
Spain has been plunged into national grief following a catastrophic collision between two high-speed trains in the southern Andalusia region, leaving at least 39 people dead and dozens more injured in one of the country’s worst rail disasters in over a decade.
The deadly crash occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Sunday near the town of Adamuz, when a high-speed train operated by private rail company Iryo, travelling from Málaga to Madrid, derailed before colliding with an oncoming Renfe Alvia service heading from Madrid to Huelva.
Emergency authorities confirmed that 73 injured passengers were rushed to hospital, 24 of them in critical condition. Among the injured were four minors. According to Andalusian emergency services (112 Andalucía), 62 victims were treated at Reina Sofía Hospital in Córdoba, while 11 others were taken to Andújar Hospital. Rescue operations continued into Monday amid fears the death toll could rise.
Officials said the rear three carriages of the Iryo train slammed into the front two carriages of the Renfe Alvia service at high speed, causing both trains to overturn. Several carriages reportedly plunged down an embankment, trapping passengers inside mangled metal.
The driver of the Renfe Alvia train was among those killed, according to sources cited by Spanish news agency EFE.
Verified videos circulating online showed harrowing scenes of passengers crawling through shattered windows and climbing onto overturned carriages in near-total darkness as firefighters and emergency crews battled to free those trapped.
“The problem is that the carriages are deformed — the metal is twisted with people inside,” Andalusia’s chief firefighter, Francisco Carmona, told Spanish state broadcaster RTVE.
Throughout the night, distraught relatives gathered at train stations and hospitals, desperately seeking information. One mother told EFE that her daughter, who was on the Alvia service, called her in tears moments after the crash, describing scenes of chaos before the call abruptly ended due to poor signal.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the tragedy as “a night of deep pain for our country,” while messages of condolence poured in from across Europe. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, currently in Athens for a state funeral, said they were following developments “with great concern” and expressed their sympathy to the victims’ families.
Andalusian Health Minister Antonio Sanz warned that the situation remained complex and that fatalities could increase as rescue teams reached more trapped passengers.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the cause of the collision was still unknown, calling the incident “extremely unusual.” He noted that the crash occurred on a straight, recently renovated section of track upgraded under a €700 million investment programme, involving relatively new trains.
“All the railway experts who have been here today are extremely baffled by the accident,” Puente said.
Both rail operators activated emergency protocols. Iryo said it was cooperating fully with investigators, while Renfe deployed psychological support teams and information centres for affected families.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended, with several routes redirected or cancelled, according to infrastructure operator Adif.
The tragedy marks Spain’s deadliest railway accident since 2013, when 79 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments and bring updates as investigations unfold.
