At least 21 dead after high-speed train collision in Spain

At least 21 people have died after a collision involving high-speed trains in southern Spain, with officials cautioning that the death toll may increase.

Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente said more than 30 people with serious injuries are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to rail network operator Adif, the accident occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to Córdoba, when a high-speed train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and veered onto an adjacent track.

The derailed train subsequently struck an oncoming service travelling from Madrid to Huelva. Andalusian emergency services reported that at least 73 people were injured overall in the crash.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established, and authorities say the investigation is unlikely to reach conclusions for at least a month.

Iryo, the private rail operator running the Málaga–Madrid service, said approximately 300 passengers were on board the train that derailed, while the second train, operated by Renfe, was carrying about 100 passengers.

All rail connections between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the incident and will remain closed on January 19. The operator added that stations will stay open overnight to assist affected passengers.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were closely monitoring developments surrounding the disaster “with great concern”.

Spain’s deadliest high-speed rail accident occurred in 2013 in Galicia, in the country’s northwest, when a derailment killed 80 people and injured 140 others.

By Jeyhun Aghazada