At least 21 people have been killed after a high-speed train derailed and crashed into an oncoming train, pushing it off the tracks, in Spain on Sunday.
State broadcaster Television Espanola reported that 100 people had been injured, 25 seriously, in the horror accident happened near Adamuz, in Cordoba province.
The driver of one of the trains, which was travelling from Madrid to Huelva, was among those who died, the TV station reported.
"The Iryo 6189 Malaga - (to Madrid) train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train which was travelling on the adjacent track has also derailed," said Adif, which runs the rail network, in a social media post.
Adif said the accident happened at 6:40 p.m. (1740 GMT), about 10 minutes after the Iryo train left Cordoba heading towards Madrid.
Spanish transport minister said the crash was “very serious”. Speaking of the derailment of the Iryo train, he said: “The impact has been terrible, causing the first two units of the Renfe train to be thrown off as a result.”
Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he was “very concerned” by the news.
Key Points
- High-speed train crash kills at least 21
- Spanish prime minister 'very concerned' about train crash
- Local hospitals prepare for influx of patients
- Pictures from the scene of the crash
- EU Council president 'deeply shocked' by crash
Spanish and European leaders mourn the dead
04:30 , Namita SinghSpanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has offered his “sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims”.
"Tonight is one of deep sadness for our country,” he wrote on X.
Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also expressed their condolences and concern on social media.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that she was following "the terrible news" from Cordoba.
"Tonight you are in my thoughts," she wrote in Spanish.
Locals reaching accident scene to help victims
04:15 , Namita SinghFrancisco Carmona, the firefighter chief of Cordoba, told Spanish national radio RNE that one of the trains was badly mangled, with at least four carriages off the rails.
The regional Civil Protection chief, Marïa Belïn Moya Rojas, told Canal Sur the accident happened in an area that is hard to reach. She added that local people were taking blankets and water to the scene to help the victims.
Spain's military emergency relief units joined the deployment of other rescue units. The Red Cross also provided support to healthcare officials.
Officials call accident 'strange'
03:45 , Namita SinghSpain's transport minister Oscar Puente said the cause of the crash was unknown.He called it "a truly strange" incident because it happened on a flat stretch of track that had been renovated in May. He also said the train that jumped the track was less than four years old.
That train belonged to the private company Iryo, while the second train, which took the brunt of the impact, was part of Spain's public train company Renfe.
Iryo issued a statement saying it "deeply lamented what has happened" and that it was working with authorities to manage the situation.
According to Puente, the back part of the first train derailed and crashed into the head of the other train, knocking its first two carriages off the track and down a four-meter (13-foot) slope. He said the worst damage was to the front section of the Renfe train.
Impact 'felt like an earthquake'
03:45 , Namita SinghSalvador Jimïnez, a journalist for Spanish broadcaster RTVE, was on board one of the derailed trains and told the network by phone that "there was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed."
He said passengers used emergency hammers to break the windows, and that some had walked away without serious injuries. Videos from the scene show people crawling out of windows to escape the wreckage with carriages leaning at an angle.
The incident occurred in the early evening near the village of Adamuz and hundreds of survivors had to be rescued in the darkness.
Minister suspects there could be more victims as 15 hospitalised with serious injuries
03:30 , Namita SinghSpain's transport minister Oscar Puente updated the death toll to 21 after midnight when he said that rescuers had removed all the survivors. But Puente said there could be more victims still to be confirmed.
Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno said 75 passengers were hospitalised, with most taken to the nearby city of Cordoba, including 15 people with serious injuries.
Moreno said emergency workers would work all night to remove bodies from the wreckage."We have a very difficult night ahead," Andalusia's regional health chief Antonio Sanz said.
ICYMI: High-speed trains collide after one derails in southern Spain, killing at least 21
03:15 , Namita SinghA high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an incoming train on Sunday in southern Spain, killing at least 21 and injuring dozens more, the country's transport minister said.
The tail end of an evening train travelling from Malaga to Madrid with some 300 passengers went off the rails near Cïrdoba at 7.45pm local time and slammed into a train with some 200 passengers coming from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to rail operator Adif.
Footage shows aftermath of deadly train derailment in Spain
03:01 , Alex CroftNew footage shows the aftermath of a deadly high-speed train derailment near Adamuz in southern Spain (January 18).
So far, 21 people have been confirmed dead by police, with state broadcaster Television Espanola adding that 100 people had been injured, 25 seriously.
Video shared on social media shows derailed carriages, emergency crews at the scene, and passengers climbing out of a train carriage left tilted on its side.
Watch here:
More pictures from the scene in Adamuz
02:00 , Alex Croft
Train companies supporting relatives of victims
01:01 , Alex CroftAdif, the company which runs Spain’s state-owned rail network, has released more information in a post on social media.
The company says it is providing spaces to assist the relatives of victims, the operator added.
It added in the post: “We are working in coordination with emergency services and railway companies regarding the accident that has taken place in Adamuz.
“Tonight, the stations of Madrid Puerta de Atocha, Córdoba Julio Anguita and Sevilla Santa Justa will remain open.”
🔴 Trabajamos en coordinación con los servicios de emergencia y empresas ferroviarias en el accidente que ha tenido lugar en Adamuz (Córdoba).
— Adif (@Adif_es) January 18, 2026
✖️🚄 La circulación de alta velocidad entre Madrid y Córdoba, Sevilla, Málaga, Granada y Huelva seguirá suspendida, al menos, durante… https://t.co/UNHi8zFT54
Situation is 'very serious', says Spain's transport minister
00:01 , Alex CroftSpanish transport minister has described the situation regarding the high-speed train crash between Madrid and Cordoba as “very serious”.
“The latest information coming in is very serious,” Oscar Puente said in a post on X.
“The last units of the Iryo train heading toward Madrid have derailed, with those cars invading the opposite track where, at that moment, a Renfe train heading toward Huelva was traveling.
“The impact has been terrible, causing the first two units of the Renfe train to be thrown off as a result. The number of victims cannot be confirmed at this time. The fundamental priority now is to assist the victims.”
EU Council president 'deeply shocked' by crash
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:50 , Alex CroftEU Council president Antonio Costa has said he is “deeply shocked” by the horror train crash which has left at least 21 dead.
He said in a post on X: “Deeply shocked by the terrible train accident in Adamuz, Córdoba.
“My deepest solidarity with the victims, their loved ones, and with the Spanish people.
“My most sincere condolences to the grieving families and my full support to the injured people, as well as to the emergency teams mobilized.”
Consternado por el terrible accidente ferroviario en Adamuz, Córdoba.
— António Costa (@eucopresident) January 18, 2026
Mi más profunda solidaridad con las víctimas, sus seres queridos y con el pueblo español.
Mis más sinceras condolencias a las familias en duelo y todo mi apoyo a las personas heridas, así como a los equipos…
Local hospitals prepare for influx of patients
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:45 , Alex CroftA local doctor has said his medical facility is ready for an influx of patients following the deadly train crash in Adamuz, Spain.
According to reports in Spain, 100 people were injured, including 25 seriously.
“Ready for anyone who needs it regarding the accident in #adamuz,“said Ruben Ciria, alongside a picture of several medics standing in a room with a number of empty hospital beds.
“All alerts activated. The healthcare response in #Cordoba is massive. Giving the best we have.”
Preparad@s para todo aquel que lo necesite respecto del accidente en #adamuz. Todas las alertas activadas. La respuesta sanitaria en #Cordoba está siendo masiva. Dando lo mejor que tenemos. @quironsalud @quironsalud @InfoAdif @Renfe @Inforenfe pic.twitter.com/AJ85sK1m02
— RUBEN CIRIA (@drciria) January 18, 2026
Spanish prime minister says he is 'very concerned' about train crash
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:28 , Alex CroftSpanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has said he is “very concerned” about the accident between two high-speed trains.
“Very concerned about the accident between two high-speed trains that have derailed in Adamuz (Córdoba),” Mr Sanchez wrote on X.
“The Government is working with the rest of the competent authorities and emergency services to assist the passengers.”
Footage shows aftermath of deadly train derailment in Spain
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:26 , Alex CroftHigh-speed rail suspended in region on Monday
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:26 , Alex CroftHigh-speed rail traffic will be suspended between Madrid and Cordoba after Sunday’s crash, state-owned Spanish train operator Adif has said.
“High-speed rail traffic between Madrid and Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, and Huelva will be suspended, at least, throughout Monday, January 19,” it said on X.
ℹ️ La circulación ferroviaria de alta velocidad entre Madrid y Córdoba, Sevilla, Málaga y Huelva estará suspendida, al menos, durante todo el lunes 19 de enero.
— INFOAdif (@InfoAdif) January 18, 2026
Pictures from the scene of the crash
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:24 , Alex Croft
Bulletin | Trains derail in Spain causing mass casualty emergency
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:23 , Alex CroftEverything you need to know in five bullet points:
- Twenty-one people have reportedly died after two high-speed trains derailed in southern Spain on Sunday, according to state-run television channel RTVE.
- The incident, which occurred near Adamuz, Cordoba, also left at least 100 passengers injured, with 25 sustaining serious injuries.
- The Iryo 6189 service, travelling from Málaga to Madrid, derailed and crashed onto an adjacent line, subsequently causing a second train (Madrid to Huelva) to also derail.
- The accident took place approximately ten minutes after the Iryo train departed Malaga at 6:40 p.m., with the Italian-run private rail operator yet to issue a statement.
- Rail network operator Adif announced the suspension of all rail services connecting Madrid and Andalusia, with emergency services dispatching numerous vehicles to the scene.
High-speed train crash kills at least 21
Sunday 18 January 2026 23:17 , Alex CroftA high-speed train derailed and smashed into another oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, pushing the second train off the tracks in a collision that police sources confirmed had killed at least 21 people.
The accident happened near Adamuz, in Cordoba province. So far, 21 people have been confirmed dead by police, with state broadcaster Television Espanola adding that 100 people had been injured, 25 seriously.
The driver of one of the trains, which was travelling from Madrid to Huelva, was among those who died, the TV station added.
