Derailed High-Speed Trains Near Adamuz: What Happened

On the evening of January 18, 2026, a high-speed Iryo service derailed near Adamuz in Córdoba. The Iryo 6189, a Málaga to Madrid train, left the track about ten minutes after it departed Córdoba and crossed onto the adjacent line, where it hit a Madrid-to-Huelva service. Both trains derailed and passengers were evacuated in darkness, with some people using emergency hammers to break windows. Rescue crews worked through the night and hospitals in the region treated dozens of injured passengers.

However, early counts of the dead varied widely. Some reports listed five fatalities, other outlets reported ten, and later official statements raised the toll to twenty-one. ADIF has suspended high-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia and set up assistance points at major stations. ADIF and Renfe opened help centres in Atocha, Córdoba and Málaga, and hotlines were created for families of passengers. Hospitals reported more than seventy people were taken for treatment. Emergency units, including the military's UME and the Red Cross, were deployed to the scene. An investigation is under way and officials said it could take weeks to determine the cause.