A high-speed train derailed and veered into another train in Spain on Sunday evening, killing at least 39 people and leaving over 120 injured.
On Monday, officials said the train operated by rail company Iryo, was travelling from Malaga to Madrid with 371 people onboard when its rear three carriages derailed and crashed into the front two carriages of another high-speed train travelling in the opposite direction.
News agency EFE reports that the collision, which happened near Adamuz in the southern region of Andalusia, caused both trains to overturn at speed, with the front carriages of the second train sent plunging down an embankment.
It added that the death toll rose to 39 on Monday morning, citing sources. “At least 73 passengers were injured, including 24 in serious condition,” emergency officials said on X.
EFE said the driver of the second train, an Alvia service travelling from Madrid to the southwestern city of Huelva, was among the dead, citing sources at state-owned rail company Renfe, which owns and operates Alvia.
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of grief across Spain, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calling it a “night of deep pain” for the country. European leaders were quick to send their condolences.
The incident marks one of Spain’s worst railway accidents since the Galicia crash in 2013 when 79 people were killed and 144 were injured after a train slammed into a well and burst into flames near Santiago de Compostela.
Following Sunday’s incident, which happened shortly after 7.30 p.m. local time, officials in Andalusia launched a large emergency response, involving firefighters, police and a military emergency unit.
EFE said a mother whose daughter was stuck in the fourth carriage of the Alvia train was desperately seeking answers from Renfe and emergency services. It added that she had wanted to travel to the crash site but access was challenging with many roads shut.
Andalusian Regional Government Health Minister Antonio Sanz told local media that the situation is complex and the death toll could rise.
Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the cause of the incident remains unknown, but added it was “extremely unusual” as it happened on a straight stretch of track which had been recently renovated as part of a € 700m ($8.14m) investment project and the train was relatively new.
President of Andalusia’s regional government, Juanma Moreno, said rescuers would work throughout the night recovering bodies from the wreckage, a complex task due to the severity of the damage.
“Some of the carriages are in a very deteriorated, very sorry state,” he said, according to EFE.
Moreno added that 16 forensic doctors would identify the bodies to certify the deaths and inform their relatives.
Meanwhile, surviving passengers were reported to have arrived at Atocha station in Madrid from 4.30 a.m. on buses chartered by the train companies.
A statement from the royal household of Spain noted that the King and Queen of Spain, who are in Athens to attend the funeral ceremony for Princess Irene of Greece, said they were following developments “with great concern.” “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, as well as our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement said.
Iryo, the operator of the first train, expressed regret for the incident, saying that it had activated emergency protocols and was working with authorities to manage the situation.
According to Spain’s national railway company, Ranfe, emergency services have been deployed to help the passengers. Psychological support teams and information points have also been set up for victims and their families.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia are suspended, and trains travelling on the Seville-Madrid line are being redirected to their point of origin, according to Adif.
