Spain’s Worst Train Crash in Decades? Rescue Teams Work Amid Rising Death Toll

January 20, 2026

Spanish authorities are using cranes and heavy equipment to search for bodies trapped in the wreckage of a tragic train collision in Córdoba province. This incident has resulted in at least 41 deaths and left others missing, officials reported on Tuesday.

The crash happened on Sunday evening near Adamuz, roughly 360 kilometers south of Madrid. It involved two high-speed trains, one run by the private operator Iryo and the other by the state-run Alvia service. The collision occurred in a remote olive-growing area, making the wreckage hard to reach. The site is only accessible via a narrow road, which complicates rescue and recovery efforts.

Emergency services and the Spanish Civil Guard have started using cranes to lift debris and access the worst-hit carriages to recover the remains of those still unaccounted for. Overnight, another body was found in the wreckage of the Iryo train, raising the provisional death toll to at least 41, as stated by officials.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska informed state broadcaster TVE that at least three bodies are still seen trapped in the wreckage. Authorities have received around 43 missing-person reports, which roughly matches the provisional death count. However, they warned that the final toll will not be confirmed until the carriages can be thoroughly examined.

The region and the entire country have been profoundly affected by this tragedy, Spain's first deadly accident on its extensive high-speed rail network. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were set to visit the site, and the government has declared a period of mourning while rescue and investigative work continues.

Investigators are looking into whether a faulty rail joint may have led to the initial derailment that caused the collision. However, officials mention that it is too soon to say if the track issue was the reason for the crash or a result of it.