Guwahati: At least 40 people were killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided near the southern Spanish city of Córdoba on Sunday evening, authorities said.
The accident occurred at around 7.45 p.m. local time when a train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming service from Madrid to Huelva, according to rail infrastructure operator Adif.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the derailment preceded the collision, forcing the Huelva-bound train into an embankment alongside the track. He said most of the casualties were in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site on Monday and announced three days of national mourning. He said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the accident.
Officials said the cause of the derailment was not yet known and that findings from the inquiry were expected to take at least a month. Mr. Puente described the incident as “unusual” and said railway experts consulted by the government were unable to immediately explain the sequence of events.
Renfe president Álvaro Fernández Heredia said excessive speed and human error had been ruled out. Speaking to national radio RNE, he said both trains were operating within the permitted speed limits and that onboard safety systems would have corrected any operational lapse. A mechanical failure or infrastructure-related issue was being examined as a possible cause, he added.
Around 400 passengers and staff were on board the two trains operated by Renfe and private rail company Iryo. Emergency services said 122 people received medical assistance, with 48 remaining hospitalised as of Monday afternoon. Five of those hospitalised are minors.
The death toll stood at 39 on Monday, though Mr. Puente said the figure was not final as rescue and identification efforts were continuing.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, medical personnel and the Spanish Civil Guard, worked through the night to evacuate passengers and recover bodies from derailed and twisted carriages. Córdoba fire service chief Francisco Carmona said the condition of the wreckage had complicated rescue operations.
Andalusian regional government president Juanma Moreno said heavy machinery would be required to clear sections of the wreckage before a full search and identification of victims could begin.
Passengers who survived the crash described a sudden and violent impact. Some said windows shattered and luggage was thrown across compartments at the moment of collision.
Authorities said investigations were continuing into what caused one of Spain’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years.