Spain PM vows to find answers after high-speed rail crash that killed 39 people
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez vowed a thorough investigation into a deadly high-speed train collision in southern Spain that killed at least 39 people, with the toll possibly rising to 40.
The crash occurred late on Sunday, January 18, 2026, near Adamuz in Córdoba province, when the tail end of a high-speed train from Málaga to Madrid derailed on a straight track section and veered onto an adjacent line, colliding with an oncoming train from Madrid to Huelva. Around 300 passengers were on the derailed Iryo train and 100 on the Renfe service, leading to numerous severe injuries treated by emergency teams amid challenging wreckage conditions.
Sánchez visited the site on Monday, stating Spanish society demands answers on what happened and committing to uncover the truth. He described it as a “night of profound sorrow” for the nation, with the government announcing three days of mourning.
Early findings noted a broken joint on the track, and officials described the incident as “extremely unusual” on recently renovated track with active safety systems; trains were below speed limits. Transport Minister Óscar Puente indicated the death toll isn’t final, with a full inquiry expected to take at least a month.
