Spain high-speed train collision: Death toll rises to 39, – Firstpost

Spanish police said on Monday that at least 39 people were killed after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, as rescue operations continued through the night.

The crash occurred at around 7.45 pm local time on Sunday near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km south of Madrid. One of the trains derailed, crossed onto the opposite track and slammed into an oncoming service.

Rescue operations through the night

Emergency teams worked overnight to search the wreckage for survivors. Officials mentioned dozens of people were injured, with state broadcaster RTVE reporting that 152 people were hurt, citing police sources.

Members of Spain’s civil guard and civil defence remained at the scene throughout the night, while the Spanish Red Cross opened a support centre in Adamuz to assist emergency workers and relatives seeking information.

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Around 400 passengers onboard

There were around 400 passengers on board the two trains, most of them Spaniards travelling to and from Madrid after the weekend. It remained unclear how many tourists were among them, as January is not a peak holiday season in Spain.

Train services cancelled, PM clears schedule

More than 200 train services between Madrid and the southern Andalucia region — including Cordoba, Seville and Granada — were cancelled throughout Monday, according to RTVE.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cleared his agenda for the day following the accident, his office declared in a statement.

Cause of crash still unknown

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated the first two wagons of the second train were “thrown off” the tracks, describing reports from the scene as “very grave”. He stressed that the cause of the crash was still unknown.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Puente called the accident “strange”, noting that it occurred on a straight section of track renovated in May at a cost of €700 million. He added that the track was “supposedly in perfect state” and that the train involved was relatively modern, having been in service for four years.

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Mayor describes ‘horrific’ scene

Adamuz Mayor Rafael Moreno stated he was among the first to arrive at the site. “I saw a passenger reduced to rags,” he told Spanish daily El Pais. “There was no light; it was nighttime. The scene is horrific.”

Spain’s past rail tragedy

Spain last suffered a major rail disaster in 2013, when a high-speed train travelling from Madrid to Galicia derailed, killing 79 people and injuring 179 others.

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