Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday following a high-speed train derailment in southern Andalusia that killed 40 people and injured more than 120. The crash, which occurred late Sunday near Adamuz on a service from Malaga to Madrid operated by Iryo, is the country’s deadliest rail accident since 2013, when 80 people died near Santiago de Compostela.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the site on Monday, calling it “a day of sorrow for all of Spain” and pledging a transparent investigation into the cause. “We will uncover the answer, and once the cause of this tragedy is determined, we will present it with absolute transparency,” he said.
Andalusia’s regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno confirmed the death toll had risen to 40, with 41 of the injured still hospitalised in nearby Cordoba. Heavy machinery was deployed to lift damaged carriages and allow rescue teams better access to the site, while families of missing passengers shared photos online in search efforts.
Aerial footage released by Spain’s Guardia Civil showed two trains separated at the scene, with rescuers in high-visibility vests working around them. Unlike the 2013 accident, this derailment occurred on a straight section of track, and both trains were reportedly traveling within the speed limit of 250 km/h.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the derailment as “extremely strange,” noting the Iryo train was nearly new and the track section recently renovated. The train, built in 2022, had been inspected just three days prior. Human error and speeding have largely been ruled out, with investigators focusing on potential mechanical or infrastructure failures.
Iryo said around 300 passengers were aboard its service, while Renfe, operator of the second train bound for Huelva, carried 184 passengers. Survivors described chaotic scenes, with one telling La Sexta television it felt “like a horror movie,” as glass shattered and the train shook violently.
Local residents in Adamuz rushed to aid victims, bringing water, blankets, and other supplies. Condolences poured in from global leaders, including Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Spain, home to Europe’s largest high-speed rail network, operates over 3,000 km of dedicated tracks linking major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Malaga.
