Derailed High-Speed Trains Near Adamuz: What Happened

Late on January 18, 2026, two high-speed passenger trains collided after one derailed near Adamuz in Córdoba, Andalusia. The Iryo 6189 service from Málaga to Madrid left the rails about ten minutes after departing Córdoba and crossed onto the adjacent track, where it struck a Madrid-to-Huelva train; both sets of carriages came off the line. The impact left twisted metal and carriages leaning, and rescue workers needed to cut parts of the wreckage to reach trapped passengers. Local residents brought blankets and water, while emergency crews worked through the night.

Initial casualty totals varied across early reports, with figures ranging from five to twenty-one fatalities; more than one hundred passengers were injured and at least twenty-five were described as seriously hurt. ADIF suspended high-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia and opened assistance points at major stations including Madrid-Atocha, Córdoba and Málaga. Emergency units, including the military emergency unit UME and the Red Cross, joined local services to triage and move patients to hospitals. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said an inquiry is under way and that it could take about a month to reach conclusions.

Iryo is a private operator in Spain and the company said it was working with authorities to manage the situation; officials noted the derailed train was less than four years old. ADIF and local police are coordinating the site response while investigators collect evidence; authorities have not released a cause and have warned that establishing the sequence of events will take time. Families of passengers were offered help lines and reception centres as rail services were disrupted across the region.