Deadly High-Speed Train Collision in Southern Spain Kills at Least 21

Adamuz, Córdoba Province, Spain — A catastrophic collision between two high-speed trains occurred on Sunday evening, January 18, 2026, near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province, southern Spain, claiming at least 21 lives and injuring over 100 people, including 25 seriously, according to updated reports from Spanish authorities, police sources, and state broadcaster RTVE.

The incident unfolded around 7:39–7:45 p.m. local time when an Iryo high-speed train (service LD AV 6189) traveling from Málaga to Madrid Puerta de Atocha derailed. The last three carriages (wagons 6, 7, and 8) came off the tracks and crossed onto the adjacent line, where a Renfe Alvia train (service 2384) heading from Madrid to Huelva was approaching in the opposite direction.

The impact caused both trains to derail further, with reports of overturned carriages, shattered windows, twisted metal, and passengers trapped amid the wreckage. The Iryo train was carrying approximately 317 passengers, while the Alvia had around 100. Eyewitnesses, including RTVE journalist Salvador Jiménez aboard the Málaga-Madrid service, described the derailment as feeling "like an earthquake," with one carriage completely overturning. Passenger accounts shared on social media detailed violent shaking, power loss, and chaotic evacuation scenes, including people breaking windows to escape.

Emergency response was massive and challenging due to the remote location and difficult access. Andalucía's emergency services (112 Andalucía), the Red Cross, firefighters, the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME), and multiple mobile intensive care units were deployed. A field hospital was established at the scene amid cold nighttime temperatures. Among the fatalities was the driver of the Alvia train.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, posted on X: "Following the terrible news from Córdoba tonight. My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the rail accident and to the Spanish people."

Spain's rail infrastructure manager Adif confirmed that high-speed services between Madrid and Andalucía—including routes to Córdoba, Sevilla, Málaga, and Huelva—are suspended at least through Monday, January 19, 2026. Passengers are urged to check updates from Renfe, Iryo, and Adif. The cause of the initial derailment remains under investigation, marking this as the first fatal accident involving Spain's high-speed network (AVE and similar) in its 34-year history.

This tragedy has drawn immediate comparisons in Greece to the Tempi train crash of February 28, 2023, where a head-on collision between a passenger and freight train killed 57 people (mostly young students) due to alleged systemic failures, human error, and infrastructure issues. Ongoing protests, investigations, and public outrage over perceived cover-ups and lack of accountability continue into 2026, making any major European rail disaster particularly resonant for Greek audiences concerned about transport safety standards across the continent.