At least 39 killed as two high-speed trains collide near Córdoba, Spain

At least 39 people were killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided on Sunday near Adamuz, a small town close to Córdoba in southern Spain, officials said. The collision occurred at about 7:45 p.m., according to a provisional investigative report. The report said the last two cars of a northbound Iryo train from Málaga derailed as it approached Adamuz station and crossed into the path of an oncoming southbound Renfe Alvia train from Madrid to Huelva; the first two cars of the Renfe train fell down a 12-foot embankment.

Iryo said about 300 passengers were aboard its train; Renfe has not released a passenger count for the other train. Records cited by officials showed one train was traveling about 127 m.p.h. and the other about 130 m.p.h., with a speed limit on the stretch of roughly 150 m.p.h.; Renfe’s president said it was not a speeding issue.

Authorities noted the crash happened on a straight, recently renovated section of track and that the Iryo train was less than four years old. Spain’s Union of Railway Drivers said it had warned regulators last August about suspected flaws on lines including the one where the collision occurred, but the union stressed it did not know whether any such issues caused the accident.

Emergency crews continued searching the wreckage on Monday and officials warned the death toll might rise; DNA analysis was being used to identify some victims.

Key Topics

World, Iryo, Renfe, Adamuz, Córdoba, Spain