Image: from Noroeste X@noroestemx
By International Desk with Agencies
ADAMUZ, SPAIN — Sunday, January 18, 2026
A major railway disaster has struck southern Spain this evening, leaving at least seven people dead and over 100 others injured. The incident involved two high-speed trains that derailed near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Córdoba, in what is being described as one of the most serious rail accidents in recent Spanish history.
The Collision and Derailment
BREAKING: 7 killed, 100 injured (25 seriously) in train derailment in Adamuz, Córdoba, Spain https://t.co/1A4bFT0O82 pic.twitter.com/gbR6IBCxwV
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) January 18, 2026
The accident began around 6:50 p.m. local time, shortly after the Iryo 6189 service departed from Málaga en route to Madrid. According to reports from the rail network operator, Adif, the Iryo train, operated by a private Italian-run company, left the tracks for reasons that are still under investigation.
Tragically, the derailed carriages crashed onto an adjacent line, where they were struck by a second high-speed train traveling between Madrid and Huelva. The impact caused the second train to derail as well, leading to a catastrophic scene of mangled steel and overturned carriages.
Casualties and Emergency Response
State-run television channel RTVE, citing police sources, confirmed that seven people have died in the wreckage. Emergency services have treated at least 100 passengers at the scene, with 25 of them reported to be in serious condition.
The regional government of Andalusia immediately mobilized a massive rescue operation, dispatching at least nine ambulances, fire crews, and specialized medical units to the site. Images shared by passengers on social media showed the rear carriages of one train lying on their side in the darkness, with stunned survivors huddled together along the tracks.
Travel Chaos and Suspensions
In the wake of the disaster, Adif has suspended all high-speed rail services between Madrid and the entire region of Andalusia. This closure affects thousands of travelers on the busy corridors connecting the capital with Seville, Málaga, Córdoba, and Huelva.
Local authorities have warned that the tracks are severely damaged and that the suspension will likely remain in place for several days while investigators from the Civil Guard and the Commission for the Investigation of Railway Accidents (CIAF) conduct their work.
Official Reactions
While the private operator Iryo has yet to issue a formal statement, the Spanish Minister of Transport expressed “deepest condolences to the families of the victims” and promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the derailment.
Initial reports suggest that the weather in the area was clear at the time of the accident, and investigators will be looking closely at both technical failure and human error as potential factors.
Spain Rail Disaster: Key Facts
| Category | Details |
| Location | Near Adamuz, Córdoba (Andalucía) |
| Trains Involved | Iryo 6189 (Málaga-Madrid) and a Madrid-Huelva service |
| Confirmed Deaths | 7 |
| Injuries | 100+ (25 serious) |
| Service Status | All trains between Madrid and Andalucía are suspended |