The last inspection of the Iryo train that crashed in Adamuz took place four days ago.
SPAIN - In the Adamuz (Cordoba), approximately480-500 people were traveling between the two trains involved.
The Iryo train , traveling from Málaga to Madrid, had approximately 300 passengers on board at the time of the derailment. Meanwhile, the Alvia train , heading from Huelva to Madrid, was carrying around 184 people , including the crew, the Barcelona-based newspaper Vanguardia reported on Monday .
It notes that the numbers are approximate and provisional, and may be adjusted as the final passenger count is confirmed.
Following the train accident in Adamuz (Córdoba), the Civil Guard has deployed more than 200 officers to the area to assist with emergency and security operations. These include officers from Public Safety, Traffic, the Reserve and Security Groups (GRS), and other specialized units, as well as helicopters and drones for surveillance and operational coordination.
In addition, the Central Crime Scene Investigation Team of the Forensic Science Service is working at the site , along with fingerprint and DNA identification experts , some with experience in previous high-impact operations such as the DANA storm. Their objective is to facilitate the early identification of the deceased and support the forensic investigation of the accident.
Vanguardia highlights that Spain has had several serious railway accidents that have marked its history, both for the number of victims and for their consequences in safety and regulation:
- Santiago de Compostela (2013): Derailment of an Alvia train due to excessive speed on a curve. 80 dead and more than 140 injured. It prompted improvements in speed control and safety.
- Valencia Metro (2006): Derailment at Jesús station. 43 dead and more than 40 injured. Braking and maintenance systems were reviewed.
- El Cuervo, Seville (1992): Head-on collision of two commuter trains due to a signaling error. 27 dead and more than 50 injured. Improvements in communication and signaling protocols.
- Torre del Bierzo, León (1944): Derailment and collision due to train overloading. More than 80 dead. Changes in regulations on cargo and passengers.
- Castelldefels, Barcelona (2010): Train hits people crossing tracks after a concert. 12 dead and 14 injured. Level crossings and signaling were reinforced.
The accident
On Sunday, January 18, 2026 , an Iryo train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed in the municipality of Adamuz (Córdoba) . After leaving the tracks, three of its carriages crossed into the oncoming track , where an Alvia train was traveling towards Huelva . The collision was immediate, and the first two carriages of the Alvia fell down an embankment approximately four meters high , while other carriages from both trains were damaged or derailed.
The accident has caused at least 39 deaths and more than 150 injuries, some serious, and has left the trains partially destroyed and the tracks inoperative, leading to the suspension of all high-speed rail between Madrid and Andalusia.
The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, will travel this Monday morning to the area of the train accident that occurred this Sunday in Adamuz (Cordoba), to learn about the situation firsthand.
The railway sector of the CCOO union has expressed its sorrow over the accident in Adamuz (Córdoba), which has left at least 39 dead and more than 150 injured. The accident occurred when three carriages of an Iryo train from Málaga derailed and entered the track of an Alvia train bound for Huelva, causing two of its carriages to fall down a four-meter embankment.
The union has expressed its deepest condolences to the families and its support for the injured, and has insisted on the need for a thorough, transparent, and rigorous investigation of the accident to determine responsibility and ensure that it does not happen again. CCOO emphasizes that the safety of workers and citizens must always be the priority in rail transport and pledges to cooperate in clarifying the facts and strengthening safety measures.
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez Almeida, and the Government delegate, Francisco Martín, have decided to suspend their scheduled appointments for Monday morning following the train derailment that occurred on Sunday in Córdoba, according to their respective offices.
In Ayuso's case, the presentation of the 2025 Margarita Salas, Miguel Catalán and Julián Marías Research Awards was scheduled for 10:30 a.m., awards that recognize both the career of established scientists in the region and the talent of those under 40 years of age, in an event that was to be held at the Royal Post Office, headquarters of the Government of the Community of Madrid.
Several European leaders have publicly expressed their support and solidarity with Spain following the train tragedy in Adamuz. Messages of condolence and support have arrived from the continent's main institutions and governments, with statements from figures such as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, António Costa, as well as the heads of state and government of countries like France and Italy, Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni, among other leaders.
"Now in Córdoba, en route to the accident site. The death toll has reached 39 and is not yet final. I want to express my sincere gratitude for the enormous work of the rescue teams overnight, under very difficult circumstances, and my condolences to the victims and their families during this terrible time," the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility explained via X.
Iberia adds four additional flights to Andalusia
Iberia has so far planned to add four extra flights to Seville and Malaga this Monday, with the aim of improving air connections with Andalusia after the accident.
Company sources have indicated that larger aircraft will be used to meet the demand from passengers traveling between Madrid and various Andalusian cities. The airline also expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of this “grave tragedy.”.
The Iryo company train that derailed this Sunday in Adamuz had passed its last technical inspection on January 15, just four days before the incident, and was built in 2022, as detailed by the company itself.
In a statement, Iryo indicated that it is in constant contact with all the administrations and organizations involved, including the Ministry of Transport, Adif (the Spanish railway infrastructure manager), the Government Delegation, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the city councils of Adamuz and Córdoba. It also expressed its gratitude for the collaboration, the swift response, and the deployment of human and technical resources since the beginning of the emergency.
Source: Vanguardia
Reuters photo
