Cordoba, Jan 19— At least 21 people were killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening, authorities said.
The accident occurred around 7:45 pm local time when the rear portion of a Malaga–Madrid train derailed near Cordoba and crossed onto the opposite track, slamming into an oncoming Madrid–Huelva service, Spain’s transport ministry said. The two trains were carrying nearly 500 passengers combined.
Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente confirmed the death toll after midnight, saying rescue teams had evacuated all survivors. He cautioned that the number of victims could rise pending final identification.
“The causes of the accident are still unknown,” Puente said, describing the crash as “truly strange” given that it occurred on a flat stretch of track renovated in May.
According to rail operator Adif, the derailed train belonged to private operator Iryo and was less than four years old, while the second train was operated by Spain’s public rail company Renfe. Puente said the rear of the first train struck the front of the Renfe service, knocking its first two carriages off the track and down a four-metre slope.
“The worst damage was to the front section of the Renfe train,” he said, adding that an official inquiry could take up to a month.
Andalusia’s regional health chief Antonio Sanz said 73 injured passengers were taken to six hospitals across the region. Fire chief Francisco Carmona said at least four carriages were badly damaged and derailed.
“The situation is very serious. We have a very difficult night ahead,” Sanz said earlier.
Journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was on one of the trains, told Spanish broadcaster RTVE that passengers felt “as if there was an earthquake” before the derailment. He said emergency hammers were used to break windows, allowing some passengers to escape with minor injuries.
Videos from the scene showed passengers crawling out of tilted carriages as rescue operations continued in darkness. Civil Protection officials said the crash site was in a hard-to-reach area, prompting local residents to bring blankets and water to assist survivors.
Spain’s military emergency units, Red Cross teams and regional responders were deployed for rescue and medical assistance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was following “the terrible news” from Cordoba. “Tonight you are in my thoughts,” she wrote on X in Spanish.
Adif said rail services between Madrid and cities in Andalusia would remain suspended on Monday.