The death toll from Spain's deadliest railway disaster in over a decade has risen to 42, with authorities warning the number could climb to 43 as rescue teams continue searching through wreckage near the town of Adamuz in Cordoba province. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed that three more bodies are believed to remain trapped in the derailed carriages.
The catastrophic collision occurred on Sunday evening at approximately 7:45 PM local time when an Iryo high-speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid, carrying around 300 passengers, derailed on a stretch of track near Adamuz. Three of its carriages crossed onto the opposing track and collided violently with a Renfe Alvia train heading from Madrid to Huelva with approximately 200 passengers aboard. The impact sent the first carriages of the Alvia train tumbling down an embankment of several meters.
Investigators probing the cause of the disaster have discovered a broken joint on the rails at the crash site, according to sources briefed on initial findings. Transport Minister Oscar Puente revealed that the accident occurred on a section of track renovated in May 2025, with 700 million euros invested in infrastructure that was supposedly in perfect condition. The discovery has raised serious questions about maintenance and inspection protocols.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared three days of official mourning beginning Monday, canceling his scheduled attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos to visit the crash site and meet with victims' families. Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also traveled to Adamuz to pay their respects and speak with survivors receiving treatment at local hospitals.
The tragedy marks Spain's worst railway accident since the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment that killed 79 people and the fourth deadliest in the country's history. Rescue operations continue around the clock, with hundreds of emergency personnel working to recover victims and investigate the cause. Transportation authorities have launched a comprehensive review of the high-speed rail network's safety systems as the nation grieves.