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By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies January 19, 2026
ADAMUZ, Spain – Spain has entered a period of deep national mourning following its deadliest rail disaster in over a decade. At least 39 people were killed and 122 were injured when two high-speed trains collided near the southern city of Córdoba on Sunday evening.
The accident occurred at approximately 19:45 local time near the town of Adamuz. According to rail operator Adif, a Madrid-bound train originating from Málaga derailed, crossing onto the opposite track. It then collided head-on with an oncoming train traveling south from Madrid toward Huelva, forcing the second vessel into a steep embankment.
“Everything Went Dark”: Survivors Recount the Horror
Survivors described a scene of immediate chaos and terror. Lucas Meriako, a passenger on one of the trains, described feeling a violent jolt before the carriage windows shattered. “The impact threw people to the floor,” he said, noting that passengers had to smash remaining glass to escape the wreckage.
Another passenger recalled the moment of impact: “The train tipped to one side, then everything went dark, and all I heard were screams.”
As emergency services worked through the night, residents of Adamuz rushed to the site with water and blankets. Local Mayor Rafael Ángel Moreno Reyes praised the community’s “helping hand” during the first critical hours of the disaster.
National Response and Investigation
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrived at the crash site on Monday, accompanied by Andalusian Regional President Juanma Moreno. Sánchez declared three days of national mourning, effective from midnight tonight.
“Today is a very sad day for everyone in Spain,” the Prime Minister stated, vowing “absolute transparency” in the investigation. This insistence on clarity follows political pressure from previous infrastructure failures, with Sánchez eager to prevent misinformation in a polarized political climate.
While the cause of the derailment remains unknown, Renfe President Raül Blanco has already ruled out excessive speed or human error as the primary factors. A formal investigation has been launched, though officials warn it may take at least a month to yield definitive answers.
Royal Couple Cuts Visit Short
The tragedy has resonated at the highest levels of the Spanish state. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who were in Athens for a royal funeral, announced they are cutting their trip short to return to Spain. “I understand the desperation of the families,” the King said. “We are all truly concerned.”
Travel Disruptions
The high-speed rail corridor connecting Madrid to Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, and Huelva will remain closed until at least Friday. Renfe is currently arranging alternative transport solutions and adding extra services on the Madrid–Extremadura–Sevilla line to mitigate the impact on thousands of stranded travelers.
Meanwhile, at local hospitals, the grim task of identification continues. Regional President Juanma Moreno warned that the death toll of 39 is “more than likely” to rise as 48 people, including five children, remain hospitalized with serious injuries.