Spain high-speed train crash: 39 dead in collision near Malaga
Tragedy has struck southern Spain as a high-speed train crash has resulted in a heartbreaking loss of at least 39 lives. The calamity unfolded when the rear carriages of one train derailed, colliding with another traveling in the opposite direction. Emergency services are working tirelessly to rescue survivors while authorities delve into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event.
A high-speed train crash in southern Spain on Sunday night killed at least 39 people and injured dozens more when the tail end of one train derailed and collided with another train traveling in the opposite direction. The incident occurred at 7:45 pm when the rear carriages of a train en route from Malaga to Madrid jumped the track. This caused the lead carriages of the oncoming train, traveling from Madrid to Huelva, to derail and fall down a 4-meter slope.
Spanish police confirmed on Monday that at least 39 people had died in the collision. Some bodies were discovered hundreds of meters from the crash site, according to Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno. Efforts to recover the bodies were ongoing Monday, and authorities cautioned that the death toll could potentially rise.
The train that derailed was carrying 289 passengers, while the second train had nearly 200 passengers on board. The head of the second train bore the brunt of the impact, with its first two carriages knocked off the track. Spanish transport minister Óscar Puente stated that the largest number of fatalities appeared to have occurred in these lead carriages. All survivors had been rescued by early Monday morning.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, with Transport Minister Puente describing it as "a truly strange" incident. He noted that the collision happened on a flat stretch of track that had been renovated in May. The train that jumped the track was less than four years old and belonged to the Italian-owned company Iryo. The second train was part of Spain's public train company, Renfe.
Alvaro Fernandez, the president of Renfe, told Spanish public radio RNE that both trains were traveling well below the speed limit of 250 kmph. One train was traveling at 205 kmph, and the other at 210 kmph.
"Human error could be ruled out."
He suggested that the incident "must be related to the moving equipment of Iryo or the infrastructure." Iryo issued a statement on Monday asserting that its train was manufactured in 2022 and passed its latest safety check on January 15.
Spain has invested heavily in its high-speed rail network over decades. It boasts the largest rail network in Europe for trains operating above 250 kmph, with over 3,100 kilometers of track, according to the European Union. Renfe reported that more than 25 million passengers used its high-speed trains in 2024. Sunday's accident marked the first fatal incident on a high-speed train since Spain's high-speed rail network commenced operations in 1992. The country's most severe train accident this century occurred in 2013, resulting in 80 deaths after a train derailed in the northwest of the country.
Authorities are also focusing on providing support to hundreds of distraught family members. They have requested DNA samples to aid in the identification of victims. The crash occurred on Sunday at 7:45 pm. The train that went off the rails was traveling from Malaga to the capital, Madrid. It collided with an incoming train that was heading from Madrid to Huelva, another city in southern Spain, as reported by rail operator Adif.
The transport minister, Óscar Puente, indicated that the investigation into the crash could take up to a month. He also confirmed that the train that derailed was a relatively new model, less than four years old. The Italian-owned company Iryo operates this train. The other train involved in the collision is part of Spain's national rail company, Renfe. The rear section of the first train derailed and subsequently crashed into the front of the second train.
The speed of the trains was a key point of discussion, with Renfe's president, Alvaro Fernandez, emphasizing that both were operating within the permitted speed limits. He stated that the speeds were 205 kmph and 210 kmph, both significantly below the 250 kmph maximum. This led to the assertion that human error was unlikely to be the cause.
"Human error could be ruled out."
Fernandez further elaborated on the potential causes, suggesting that the issue might lie with either the equipment used by Iryo or the railway infrastructure itself. Iryo, in its statement, highlighted the recent manufacturing date of its train and its recent safety inspection, aiming to deflect responsibility. The company stated that its train was manufactured in 2022 and had successfully passed its latest safety check on January 15.
The article also provides context on Spain's commitment to high-speed rail. The country has made substantial investments over many years, resulting in Europe's most extensive network for trains exceeding 250 kmph. This network spans over 3,100 kilometers of track. Renfe's passenger numbers further illustrate the popularity of these services, with over 25 million passengers choosing its high-speed trains in 2024 alone. The gravity of Sunday's accident is underscored by the fact that it is the first fatal high-speed train incident since the network's inception in 1992. This contrasts with Spain's worst train accident in recent history, which occurred in 2013 and claimed 80 lives due to a derailment in the country's northwest. The focus now shifts to the ongoing recovery efforts, victim identification, and the comprehensive investigation into the precise cause of this tragic collision.