Spain has entered a three-day period of national mourning following the country’s deadliest rail disaster in a decade, which claimed 40 lives after two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern Andalusia region on Sunday evening.
The catastrophic incident occurred when an Iryo-operated train traveling from Malaga to Madrid inexplicably derailed and crossed onto the adjacent track, colliding with an oncoming Renfe service headed to Huelva. The impact caused both trains to derail, resulting in widespread devastation and over 120 injuries, with 41 passengers remaining hospitalized in Córdoba.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the accident site on Monday, declaring the tragedy ‘a day of sorrow for all of Spain’ and promising a thorough investigation with ‘absolute transparency.’ Rescue operations continued throughout Monday as heavy machinery was deployed to lift severely damaged carriages and improve access for emergency teams.
Transport officials have described the accident as ‘extremely strange’ given the circumstances. Unlike the 2013 Santiago de Compostela disaster that claimed 80 lives, this derailment occurred on a straight section of recently renovated track, with both trains traveling within the speed limit of 250 km/h (approximately 200 km/h at the time of impact).
Rail operators and government authorities have largely ruled out human error and speeding as potential causes. Iryo confirmed their locomotive was manufactured in 2022 and underwent inspection just three days before the accident. Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia suggested the investigation should focus on either Iryo’s rolling stock or infrastructure issues.
As the nation grieves, relatives of missing passengers have turned to social media to share photographs and seek information about their loved ones. Local residents of Adamuz immediately mobilized support efforts, bringing water, blankets, and supplies to the town hall following news of the tragedy.
The incident has drawn international condolences, including messages from Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron, while raising questions about the safety of Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network—the largest in Europe, spanning over 3,000 kilometers of dedicated tracks connecting major cities.