(Image source from: Nytimes.com)
A fast train came off the tracks and collided with another one in southern Spain, resulting in 39 deaths and more than 120 injuries, according to officials on Monday. They described this as the country’s most severe train accident in over ten years, calling it "very unusual. " This incident marks the deadliest train disaster since 2013, when 80 people lost their lives after a train went off course on a curved track near Santiago de Compostela in the northwest.
The accident occurred on Sunday night when a train run by the rail company Iryo, traveling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed close to Adamuz and crossed onto another track, colliding with an incoming train that also derailed. The interior ministry reported that the death count rose to at least 39, increasing from the 21 reported by police on Sunday night. Additionally, 123 individuals were hurt, with five in critical condition and 24 seriously injured, as stated by a ministry spokesperson. Transport Minister Oscar Puente informed the media that the incident occurred on a straight section of the track, which had been fully updated.
The first train that derailed was “almost new,” which added to the strangeness of the situation, he mentioned. Rail experts expressed their astonishment over the crash, calling it quite rare and challenging to understand at this time, according to the minister. Rail operator Iryo disclosed that around 300 passengers were on board its service from Malaga to Madrid. However, Renfe, the operator of the second train, has not provided details on how many passengers were traveling.
Spain possesses the largest high-speed rail system in Europe, featuring over 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) of special tracks linking major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Malaga.
The numerous passengers trapped in the wreckage hindered the urgent efforts of rescue teams. “The issue is that the train cars are bent, which means the metal has twisted with the people inside,” said Francisco Carmona, the head of firefighters in Cordoba, speaking to public broadcaster RTVE. “We even had to remove a deceased person to reach someone who was alive. It’s challenging and delicate work,” he added. Some of the train cars had fallen down a four-meter (13 feet) slope, Sanz noted.
A traveler on the second train, heading to Huelva, who only shared her first name Montse, told Spanish public television that the train "stopped suddenly with a jolt, and everything became dark. " She explained that in the last carriage, she was tossed around and witnessed bags falling on other riders.
"The staff member behind me hurt her head and was bleeding. There were kids crying," she mentioned. "Fortunately, I was at the back of the train. I feel like I have been given another chance. " Lucas Meriako, a survivor on the first train that went off the tracks, shared with La Sexta television that "this feels like a scene from a scary movie. "
"We experienced a huge impact from the back and had the sensation that the entire train was about to fall apart. . . many were hurt because of the broken glass," he remarked. High-speed trains between Madrid and the Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, and Huelva would be halted on Monday, as announced by Adif.
"Tonight is filled with deep sorrow for our nation due to the awful train disaster in Adamuz," wrote Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on X. "Words cannot lessen such tremendous pain, but I want everyone to know that the entire nation stands with them during this difficult time," he added. The royal palace stated on X that King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were watching the updates "with great worry," sending "our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims, along with our hopes for a quick recovery for those injured. " French President Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, were some of the world leaders expressing their sympathies.
