Spain Train Accident News Highlights: Spanish PM Sanchez vows ‘absolute transparency’ in train crash investigation as toll rises to 40

In this aerial view grab taken from video provided by Guardia Civil, a view of the Alvia train with rescue workers at the scene after a high-speed train collision, near Adamuz, Spain. (Guardia Civil via AP)

Spain Train Accident News Highlights:  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro ‍Sanchez on ⁠Monday promised ​a “thorough and ‌absolutely transparent” investigation ​into the deadly ‌high-speed train crash in ‌southern Spain. At least 40 people have been killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided, in what authorities described as the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than a decade. The crash happened near the town of Adamuz, close to Córdoba, after a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming service. Emergency services warned the death toll could rise as rescue work continues.

What we know about the death toll: Spanish emergency officials said at least 40 people were killed, with more than 24 seriously injured, including four children. Around 400 passengers and staff were on board the two trains involved in the collision. Rescue teams said twisted wreckage made it difficult to reach trapped passengers. Fire chief Francisco Carmona said crews were forced to remove bodies in order to reach survivors, describing the operation as “hard and tricky work”. All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the crash.

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Leaders react as investigation begins: Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country was facing a “night of deep pain”, while Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as “extremely strange”, adding that railway experts were “baffled” by the crash. An official investigation has been launched, though Puente said it may take at least a month to determine the cause. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following developments “with great concern”, offering condolences to the families of those killed. Messages of support also came from European leaders including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Live Updates

Jan 20, 2026 07:05 AM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Spanish PM vows to find cause of deadly high-speed train crash

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has promised to get to the bottom of why two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain killing at least 40 people, as rescuers continue to search the wreckage.

After visiting the site of the crash, Sanchez also announced three days of national mourning for victims.

More than 120 more people were injured as carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks, colliding with an oncoming train in Adamuz on Sunday evening.

The crash is the worst the country has seen in more than a decade.

Jan 20, 2026 05:28 AM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: What we know about the deadly train crash in Spain

Survivors recalled haunting cries and blood-smeared passenger cars after two high-speed trains collided near Cordoba, southern Spain late Sunday – in one of the nation’s deadliest railway disasters in more than a decade.

At least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured after two express trains derailed close to the small town of Adamuz, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Madrid. That prompted both vehicles to overturn, with the front cars of the second train plunging down an embankment.

A northbound high-speed train, operated by private rail company Iryo, was traveling from Malaga to Madrid when its rear three coaches were struck by the front cars of the southbound train, operated by state rail company Renfe, en route from Madrid to Huelva.

After visiting the scene, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised Monday to “get to the truth” behind the causes of the crash. He announced three days of mourning.

Broken windows of a crashed train are photographed at the site of a train collision in Adamuz, southern Spain, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Jan 20, 2026 12:05 AM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: How the remote location of crash site has complicated the rescue process

The collision occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region accessible only by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to reach the area, Iñigo Vila, national emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross, ​told Reuters.

The Andalusia region's President Juan Manuel Moreno said at least 40 people had perished, and emergency ‌crews faced difficulties bringing in the heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still lying beneath it. (Reuters)

Jan 19, 2026 10:14 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: What to know about the train crash in Spain

A high-speed train in southern Spain derailed Sunday evening, colliding with another high-speed train, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 150, Spanish authorities reported.

Rescue efforts were still ongoing Monday and officials said the death toll is likely to rise. The accident was the deadliest in Spain since a 2013 crash that killed 80 people when a commuter train hurtled off the rails as it came around a bend.

Here's what to know about the crash: The derailment and collision The derailment happened Sunday at 7:45 p.m. when the tail end of a train carrying 289 passengers on the route from Malaga to the capital, Madrid, went off the rails.

- AP

Jan 19, 2026 07:15 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Spain's PM Sánchez promises thorough and transparent investigation

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised a thorough and transparent investigation into the train crash incident which has killed at least 39 people.

Speaking at a press conference, Sanchez vowed to uncover the cause of the crash.

Jan 19, 2026 07:06 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to give an update on train crash

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to give an update on the train crash incident in the country, which has led to the death of at least 39 people.

Jan 19, 2026 06:15 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Heavy machinery would soon arrive, Andalucía president says

Juanma Moreno, the president of the regional government of Andalucía, said that heavy machinery would soon arrive to lift the damaged train cars, New York Times reported.

Jan 19, 2026 05:26 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Deadliest train accident in Spain since 2013

The train crash near Adamuz was the deadliest in Spain since 2013, when 80 people died after an overspeeding train veered off a curved track on the Galicia line in the country’s northwest. The line was run by state-owned rail operator Renfe, which was involved in deadly collision on Monday.

Jan 19, 2026 04:29 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: King of Spain to return from Athens

In light of the train accident, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, who are in Athens for a royal funeral, will return to Spain, RTVE Noticias reported.

Jan 19, 2026 03:50 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Trains were not speeding before the crash, company president says

The two high speed trains were not speeding before the crash, the New York Times reported quoting Álvaro Fernández Heredia, the president of state-owned rail company Renfe.

The crash was also unlikely to be caused by human error because the trains’ systems had measures to correct such errors, he added.

Jan 19, 2026 03:10 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: 294 people were on derailed train, says company

Iryo, the company that owned the train that derailed first, said there were 294 onboard at the time of the accident. This includes 289 passengers, 4 crew members, and 1 driver, Sky News reported.

Jan 19, 2026 01:51 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: High-speed train crash toll rises to at least 39 as rescuers search for more bodies

At least 39 people have died in the a high-speed train collision in southern Spain and rescue efforts were continuing.

Jan 19, 2026 01:45 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: What we know about the death toll

Spanish emergency officials said at least 21 people were killed, with more than 24 seriously injured, including four children.

Around 400 passengers and staff were on board the two trains involved in the collision. Rescue teams said twisted wreckage made it difficult to reach trapped passengers.

Jan 19, 2026 01:25 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Where did the crash take place?

The crash happened near the town of Adamuz, close to Córdoba, after a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming service. Emergency services warned the death toll could rise as rescue work continues.

Jan 19, 2026 01:19 PM IST

Spain Train Accident News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog

At least 21 people have been killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, in what authorities described as the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than a decade.

Stay tuned for more live updates!

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