A major disaster occurred in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia when two high-speed trains collided and derailed, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 100. As a result of the crash, rail service connecting Madrid and major southern cities was fully suspended. With many among the injured in critical condition, the death toll is expected to rise. It was not confirmed whether there were any Korean nationals among the victims.
According to Reuters, El País and other foreign media, at about 6:40 p.m. on the 18th local time, a collision occurred between high-speed trains near Adamuz in Córdoba province, Spain. An Iryo high-speed train that departed Málaga for Madrid first derailed and encroached on an adjacent track, and a Renfe train from Madrid bound for Huelva, approaching from the opposite direction, was unable to avoid it and collided.
Spanish police and the Interior Ministry officially confirmed that at least 21 people were killed in the crash. The list of the dead reportedly includes the Renfe train driver. Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported that the number of injured reached 100, of whom 25 were in serious condition. At the time of the crash, there were about 300 passengers on the Iryo train and about 100 on the Renfe train.
The scene of the accident was devastating. A Córdoba fire official told Reuters, "The cars are heavily damaged, with crumpled metal and seats tangled together, and there are still passengers trapped," and "the space is very confined, making the rescue operation complex." Rafael Moreno, the mayor of Adamuz, said in an interview with El País, "When I was the first to arrive on the scene, I witnessed the horrific sight of mutilated bodies," adding, "The situation was nothing short of hell."
Survivors likened the moment of impact to an earthquake. A reporter from public broadcaster RNE who was on the train said, "The train shook as if an earthquake had struck, then the power went out," adding, "Passengers had to break the windows with emergency hammers to escape," describing the tense situation. On social media, videos were posted in quick succession showing passengers waiting for rescue in dark carriages and wreckage of overturned trains beside the tracks.
The Spanish railway infrastructure manager (Adif) suspended all high-speed rail services connecting Madrid and Andalusia immediately after the crash. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a statement, "We are closely monitoring the situation and will work with emergency authorities to do everything possible to support the victims." Transport Minister Óscar Puente suggested that the situation on the ground was very serious and noted that the exact cause of the crash was under investigation.
The Iryo train identified as the cause of the crash belongs to a private operator whose largest shareholder is Italy's state railway group. Iryo said in a statement, "We express our deep regret and will work closely with the authorities to do everything possible to manage the situation." Authorities are focusing their investigation on how the train derailed on a straight section and whether there were any signal system anomalies.