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The worst railway accident in the last 10 years/ What is known so far about the tragedy in Spain

2026-01-19 13:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The worst railway accident in the last 10 years/ What is known so far about the

At least 39 people have died and dozens more have been injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain.

The tragic accident near the city of Cordoba has been described by local officials as the worst rail accident in Spain in more than a decade.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit the scene later on Monday, where rescue efforts are continuing.

Here's what is known so far about the incident.

Where did the collision occur?

The accident happened at around 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, about an hour after one of the trains left Malaga for Madrid. The train derailed and crossed onto the opposite track.

The train then collided with an oncoming train traveling from south of Madrid to Huelva, which was forced to crash into a dam along the tracks, Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente said on Sunday.

The minister also said that most of the dead and injured were in the first carriages of the train heading to Huelva.

What caused the collision?

The reasons for the train derailment remain unclear. Officials say an investigation has been launched, but it is not expected to determine what happened for at least a month.

Puente has described the accident as "extremely strange" and said that all the railway experts consulted by the government "are extremely surprised by the accident."

The president of Spain's state rail operator, Renfe, said he had ruled out the possibility that the incident was due to excessive speed or human error.

Alvaro Fernandez Heredia said that even if there had been a mistake, a system inside the train would have corrected it. He added that both trains were traveling below the maximum speed limit on the section of track where the collision occurred. He said a mechanical defect or an infrastructure problem were possible causes of the accident.

Are there still people trapped on trains?

According to local media, there were about 400 passengers and staff on the two trains, operated by Iryo and Alvia. It is not clear if there are still people trapped inside the carriages, but rescue teams are at the scene.

"The problem is that the wagons are overturned, so the metal is twisted with the people inside ," said Francisco Carmona, head of the Cordoba fire department.

"We even had to pull out a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It's a difficult and complicated job ," he added.

Who are the victims?

The 39 victims of the accident have not yet been identified, with Puente saying the death toll is not yet final, as there is a possibility that it will rise further.

As of midday on Monday, 112 people had received medical attention, 43 of whom remained hospitalized, local emergency services said.

Among the 43 victims still in hospital, four are minors, including one who is in intensive care, while 12 adults are also in intensive care. /CNA