The rear section of an evening train traveling from Malaga to Madrid, carrying approximately 300 passengers, derailed near Córdoba around 7:45 PM local time, impacting a train with about 200 passengers that was headed from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, as reported by rail operator Adif.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente later confirmed the death toll had risen to 21 after midnight, stating that all survivors had been rescued. However, he noted that there could be additional victims yet to be identified.
Puente indicated that the cause of the crash remains unclear, labeling the incident “truly strange,” given that it occurred on a level stretch of track that had been refurbished in May. He also mentioned that the train that derailed was less than four years old and belonged to the private operator Iryo, while the train that bore the brunt of the collision was operated by Spain’s public company Renfe.
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Iryo expressed deep regret over the incident and stated it was cooperating with authorities to address the situation.
According to Puente, the back section of the first train derailed and crashed into the front of the other train, causing the first two carriages to derail and tumble down a four-meter (13-foot) slope. He added that the most significant damage occurred to the front section of the Renfe train.
When reporters inquired about the potential duration of the investigation into the crash, he estimated it might take a month.
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s regional health chief, reported that 73 injured passengers were taken to six different hospitals. Some of
Francisco Carmona, the firefighter chief of Cordoba, told Spanish national radio RNE that one of the trains was severely damaged, with at least four carriages off the rails.
Sanz stated that the situation at the crash site is “very serious,” and stated, “We have a very difficult night ahead.”
Journalist Salvador Jiménez from Spanish broadcaster RTVE, who was on one of the derailed trains, recounted by phone that “there was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed.”
He noted that passengers employed emergency hammers to break the windows, with some managing to walk away from the incident without severe injuries. Videos from eyewitnesses show individuals crawling out of windows at times to escape the wreckage, with carriages leaning at precarious angles.
The incident occurred in the early evening, requiring the rescue of numerous survivors in the dark.
María Belén Moya Rojas, the regional Civil Protection chief, stated in an interview with Canal Sur that the accident took place in a challenging-to-reach area.
Local residents brought blankets and water to the scene to assist the victims, she mentioned.
High-speed trains, which operate on an extensive national network, are a favored mode of travel in Spain.
Spain’s military emergency relief units joined other rescue teams in the operation. The Red Cross also extended support to healthcare personnel.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented on X, stating she was closely following “the terrible news” from Cordoba.
“Tonight you are in my thoughts,” she expressed in Spanish.
ADIF announced that train services between Madrid and Andalusian cities would be suspended on Monday.
First Published: Jan 19, 2026 6:56 AM IST
