Railway disaster in Adamuz (Córdoba province): official data and sequence of events

On the evening of 18 January 2026, at approximately 7:45 p.m., a collision between two high-speed passenger trains occurred in the municipality of Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba (autonomous community of Andalusia), on the Madrid–Seville railway line.

According to preliminary information, around 484 passengers were travelling on board the two trains at the time of the accident:— Iryo train 6189, operating the Málaga–Madrid route with a Frecciarossa 1000 set, was carrying about 317 passengers;— Renfe Alvia train 2384, running between Madrid and Huelva with a Renfe Class 120 unit, had approximately 167 passengers on board.

The crash is considered one of the most serious railway accidents in Spain since the Santiago de Compostela derailment in 2013.

Casualties and injuries

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, authorities officially confirmed:— at least 41 fatalities as a result of the collision. Search and identification efforts are ongoing, and the death toll may still rise;— more than 290 people injured, including 15 in critical condition, who were transferred to hospitals in several regions.

Among the deceased are the driver of the Renfe train and at least one entire family, the Zamorano-Álvarez family, including a child, as confirmed by relatives.

Dozens of emergency teams worked at the scene, using heavy machinery to access severely damaged carriages and recover victims.

What happened at the crash site

Initial findings indicate that:— a damaged rail joint was detected on a straight section of track between Adamuz and Villanueva de Córdoba, which may have caused the initial derailment of the Iryo train;— the trains were travelling at different speeds, with the Iryo convoy at around 110 km/h, while the Alvia train was approaching at 200–205 km/h, leaving insufficient time for automatic safety systems to prevent the collision;— after derailing, the front section of the Iryo train entered the opposite track, leading to a head-on collision with the Renfe train.

Several carriages slid down an embankment of approximately four to five metres, significantly hampering rescue operations and increasing the extent of the damage.

Emergency response

Emergency services have been working continuously since the moment of the crash:— field hospitals were set up to provide immediate medical care;— cranes and heavy equipment were used to free trapped passengers;— families of the victims were asked to provide DNA samples to assist with identification.

Local residents also offered assistance. One resident of Adamuz, Gonzalo Sánchez, used his quad bike to transport injured people and rescue personnel across difficult terrain.

Official reactions

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his international commitments, visited the site and ordered a full and transparent investigation.Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as “extraordinarily strange” and stated that, so far, investigations do not point to human error or excessive speed as the direct cause.The Spanish government declared three days of official mourning.King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited the injured and conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims.

Investigation

The investigation is being conducted by the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF) in cooperation with Renfe, ILSA (Iryo operator) and ADIF-Alta Velocidad.No single definitive cause has yet been established. Current lines of inquiry include:— a potential technical failure in the rail infrastructure;— possible structural deficiencies in the affected section of track.

Authorities have ruled out sabotage or gross negligence. It has also been confirmed that the track section was renewed in 2025 and that both trains had passed recent technical inspections.