At a Glance
- A high-speed train derailed near Córdoba, Spain, on January 18, striking an oncoming train and killing 21 people.
- More than 500 passengers were aboard the two trains; 73 others were injured.
- The derailed Iryo train was less than four years old, and the tracks had been renovated in May 2025.
- Why it matters: The crash-on one of the world’s busiest high-speed corridors-has paralyzed Madrid-Andalusia service and triggered a month-long investigation.
A high-speed passenger train traveling between Málaga and Madrid left the tracks outside Córdoba on Sunday evening and slammed into an oncoming Renfe service, leaving 21 dead and 73 injured in what Spain’s transport chief called a “truly strange” accident.
The Collision
The Iryo-operated train jumped the track at roughly 7:45 p.m. local time and sideswiped a Renfe train heading from Madrid to Huelva, according to Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente. More than 300 travelers were on the Iryo service and about 200 on the Renfe train, confirmed Railway Infrastructure Administrator ADIF.
Puente said the rear cars of the Iryo train derailed first, colliding with the front section of the Renfe consist and knocking its first two cars down a 13-foot slope. The impact crumpled metal and shattered glass across a flat stretch of recently upgraded track.
Cordoba fire chief Francisco Carmona told radio station RNE that four carriages left the rails and one train was “badly mangled.”
Casualties and Response
By shortly after midnight on January 19, rescue crews had removed all survivors, though Puente warned the death toll could rise as identification continues. Andalusian health chief Antonio Sanz put the injury count at 73 and described the scene as “very serious.”
Salvador Jiménez, an RTVE journalist aboard one of the trains, told the network: “There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake, and the train had indeed derailed.” Passengers used emergency hammers to break windows and escape the wreckage.
Because the crash site is remote, local residents brought blankets and water while crews worked to reach the injured, said regional Civil Protection head María Belén Moya Rojas.
Service Disruption
ADIF immediately suspended all high-speed service between Madrid and the Andalusia region for Monday, January 19, stranding thousands at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and other stations. Long rental-car lines formed as travelers sought alternate transport.
Spain operates the world’s second-longest high-speed rail network, behind only China, according to data cited by the New York Times.
Investigation
The cause remains unknown. Puente noted the tracks were renovated in May 2025, and the Iryo train itself is fewer than four years old, complicating early theories. Officials estimate the probe could take up to a month.
Iryo issued a statement saying it “deeply lamented what has happened” and had activated emergency protocols alongside Renfe and government agencies.
On social media, Puente wrote: “The impact has been terrible. The number of victims cannot be confirmed at this time. The fundamental priority now is to assist the victims.”
Key Takeaways
- Death toll stands at 21, with 73 injured.
- Both trains carried a combined 500+ passengers.
- Track and rolling stock were recently upgraded, leaving officials puzzled.
- Madrid-Andalusia rail links remain shut while investigators examine data recorders and track geometry.
Sophia A. Reynolds reported for News Of Los Angeles.
