Spain Rail Horror: 2 Trains Collide, 21 Dead and 70+ Injured

A devastating rail disaster struck southern Spain on Sunday evening when two passenger trains collided after one of them derailed at high speed, leaving at least 21 people dead and more than 70 injured. The tragic incident occurred near Cordoba, plunging rescue teams into a tense overnight operation in a difficult-to-access area.

According to Spanish authorities, a passenger train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed around 7:45 pm local time. The rear portion of the train reportedly jumped tracks and veered into the opposite line, crashing head-on into another train that was travelling from Madrid towards Huelva. Together, the two trains were carrying around 500 passengers at the time of the accident.

Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente confirmed that rescue teams had evacuated all survivors by midnight and revised the death toll to 21. He cautioned that the number could still change as identification procedures continue. Describing the crash as “highly unusual,” Puente said the accident took place on a flat section of railway track that had undergone renovation just months ago.

The derailed train belonged to private operator Iryo and was less than four years old, while the second train was operated by state-run rail company Renfe. The collision caused severe damage, with the leading coaches of the Renfe train being pushed off the tracks and sliding down an embankment nearly four metres deep.

Emergency services rushed dozens of injured passengers to at least six hospitals across Andalusia. Regional health officials said several victims remain in serious condition. Firefighters at the scene described extensive destruction, with multiple wagons twisted and thrown off the rails.

Eyewitnesses recounted moments of terror inside the carriages. Passengers said the impact felt like an earthquake, forcing many to smash windows using emergency tools to escape. Visuals from the site showed people climbing out of tilted coaches in the darkness as rescue teams worked through the night.