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Two high-speed trains collided near the southern Spanish town of Adamuz on Sunday evening, killing at least 39 people and injuring 152 others in Spain's deadliest rail disaster since 2013, with transport officials calling the accident "extremely strange" given that the derailment occurred on a recently renovated straight track.
Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed deep sadness over the tragedy and extended condolences to the Spanish people.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives as a result of the train crash that occurred yesterday (Jan. 18) in Adamuz, Spain. We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people of Spain, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement on Monday.
The collision occurred at approximately 7:40 p.m. local time when an Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz in Cordoba province and encroached onto an adjacent track, striking an oncoming Renfe train heading toward Huelva. Both trains subsequently derailed in the collision.
"This is a very hard day for Andalusia," said Juan Manuel Moreno, the Andalusian regional president, who visited the disaster site. Spanish authorities warned the casualty toll could still rise as identification procedures continue.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente called the accident "extremely strange," noting the derailment took place on a straight section of track completely renovated in May. The Iryo locomotive, built in 2022 and last inspected on January 15, was described as "practically new."
"Rail experts are very surprised by this accident," Puente said. An independent commission will investigate whether the cause relates to infrastructure or rolling stock.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez canceled his official agenda for Monday and expressed deep sympathy for the victims. "Today is a night of deep pain for our country owing to the tragic rail accident in Adamuz," he said on social media.
"No words can alleviate such great suffering," he added.
Emergency services deployed large-scale resources to the scene, including mobile intensive care units, ambulances and logistics vehicles. The Military Emergency Unit sent approximately 40 personnel and 15 vehicles to assist rescue operations.
Two carriages of one train plunged down a four-meter embankment, complicating extraction efforts. Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Cordoba, described the challenge facing rescue workers.
"The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside," Carmona told public broadcaster RTVE.
"We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work," he added.
The Spanish Interior Ministry reported that five of the injured remain in critical condition, while 24 others, including four minors, were seriously hurt. More than 120 people sustained light to moderate injuries. Around 300 people were aboard the Iryo train; the Renfe passenger count was not disclosed.
Transport Minister Puente praised rescue workers for their efforts throughout the night. "I want to express my deepest gratitude for the tremendous work of the rescue teams throughout the night, under very difficult circumstances," he said.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following the news "with great concern." The royal palace issued a statement offering "our most heartfelt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the dead, as well as our love and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured."
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity, saying, "France stands with you." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also offered condolences.
The current accident ranks as Spain's worst train crash since 2013, when a high-speed train derailed near Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain, killing 80 people and injuring more than 140.
That 2013 accident resulted from the train traveling at twice the speed limit on a curved section of track, combined with inattention by the driver. A driver and safety director were sentenced in 2024 to two-and-a-half years in prison over that crash.
The Adamuz collision ranks as the sixth-worst rail accident in Europe since 2000, following disasters in Greece (2023, 57 dead), Montenegro (2006, 47 dead), Ukraine (2010, 45 dead), and Türkiye (2004, 41 dead).
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