Southern Spain reeled from a horrific head-on crash between two bullet trains near Cordoba, leaving 21 dead and more than 70 wounded, including 30 fighting for their lives. The incident, which occurred in the Adamuz district, has gripped the nation and halted key rail routes indefinitely.
Speaking to reporters, Transport Minister Oscar Puente detailed how a Malaga-Madrid high-speed train with 317 aboard suddenly derailed about 20 km outside Cordoba. Hurtling onto the adjacent track, it smashed into a Madrid-Huelva service, crumpling carriages and scattering debris in a scene of utter chaos.
Puente labeled the wreckage ‘terrifying,’ highlighting the direct clash between the trailing coaches of one train and the leading ones of the other. Rescue teams, including regional emergency squads, civilians, and military specialists, worked through the night to free trapped passengers and provide aid. Many with minor injuries were treated on-site by helpful locals before hospital transfers.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to X to voice national sorrow, calling it a ‘painful night for our country.’ The Spanish royals echoed this sentiment in an official statement. Adif has mobilized support hubs at major stations and launched a helpline as families anxiously await news amid ongoing searches for victims.
With rail lines closed until at least Tuesday, the economic ripple effects are already being felt. Investigators are poring over black box data and track conditions, determined to uncover why this modern rail marvel failed so catastrophically. Spain’s 2013 Santiago crash, which killed 79 due to excessive speed, looms large as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities in the system.
