Post by : Saif Rahman

In a tragic incident in southern Spain, a severe railway accident has claimed at least 40 lives. The disaster transpired on Sunday night when a high-speed train derailed and subsequently collided with another train near Adamuz in the province of Córdoba. Among the injured, 12 individuals are reported to be in critical condition.

The tragic event involved two trains transporting a total of 527 passengers. The Iryo train, which was en route from Malaga to Madrid at a speed of 110 km/h, derailed first. Moments later, a second train traveling towards Huelva at 200 km/h collided either with the last carriages of the Iryo train or with debris caused by the derailment. The collision resulted in significant destruction, splitting carriages and damaging the locomotive.

Emergency rescue efforts were hindered by the location’s difficult terrain, accessible only via a narrow road. First responders faced substantial struggles in bringing heavy machinery to the scene to lift the wreckage and rescue trapped passengers. Aerial footage depicted the two trains stranded around 500 meters apart.

Eyewitness accounts revealed terrifying moments. Ana Garcia Aranda, 26, recounted hearing her pregnant sister’s screams while she herself was trapped. Local residents rushed to the scene, witnessing the severity of injuries and fatalities.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a faulty rail joint may have contributed to the accident. It appears that a broken section of track possibly expanded under the trains’ weight, leading to the derailment. Spain’s Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF) is currently examining the interaction between the trains and the compromised track. Human error seems unlikely at this stage.

This tragic event has resulted in over 200 train cancellations in the Andalusia region. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has postponed his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, while Transport Minister Oscar Puente has been present at the site. Authorities have established a dedicated office in Córdoba to aid families in identifying victims through DNA testing.

Spain possesses the largest high-speed rail network in Europe and the second-largest globally. The line near Adamuz underwent renovations last May, and the Iryo train was less than four years old with recent inspections. Last year, train operators expressed concerns regarding significant wear on the Madrid-Andalusia line, advocating for more stringent speed regulations.

This calamity marks Spain’s worst railway disaster since 2013 and stands among the deadliest in Europe in eighty years, underscoring an urgent need for enhanced safety protocols, rigorous inspections, and meticulous oversight of high-speed rail assets.

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