Head-on collision of high-speed trains in Spain: dozens of victims and mass injuries in south of country

On Sunday evening, one of the worst rail accidents in recent years occurred in southern Spain. Near the city of Cordoba, a high-speed train derailed, crossed onto the oncoming track and collided with another train. The accident killed at least 20 people and injured dozens of passengers.

This was reported by the Associated Press.

According to the national railway infrastructure operator Adif, the train, which was traveling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed for unknown reasons. After that, the train ended up in the oncoming direction, where it crashed into a train traveling from Madrid to Huelva.

Local media noted that at the time of the collision, there were about 500 passengers on both trains. The impact was so powerful that at least one carriage fell off a slope about four meters high.

The head of the Cordoba fire department, Francisco Carmona, told Spanish national radio station RNE that one of the trains was severely damaged and at least four carriages were completely derailed.

Andalusia's health minister, Antonio Sanz, confirmed the death toll at more than 20 people and warned that the number of victims could rise as rescue efforts were still ongoing. He said military units, emergency services and medics were involved in the rescue efforts, while the Red Cross was providing assistance to the victims at the scene.

Sanz also said that 73 injured people had been taken to six hospitals in the region. The head of the regional civil protection service, Maria Belén Moya Rojas, told Canal Sur that the accident occurred in a difficult-to-reach area, which made it difficult for emergency services to work.

"The situation at the scene is very serious. We are facing a very difficult night," he said.

In connection with the tragedy, the operator Adif announced the complete cancellation of rail services between Madrid and the cities of Andalusia on Monday.