At least 42 people were killed and dozens more injured on Sunday evening when two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, marking one of Europe’s deadliest rail disasters in 80 years.
The crash occurred at 7.45pm local time near Adamuz, a town of around 5,000 residents in the province of Córdoba, according to Spain’s interior ministry.
The rear section of a train operated by private high-speed company Iryo, travelling from Málaga to Madrid, derailed and crossed onto a neighbouring track, where it struck an oncoming Renfe service heading from Madrid to Huelva. Renfe is Spain’s state-owned rail operator.
State rail infrastructure manager Adif said the Iryo train derailed first before colliding with the second train, forcing it off the tracks and down a railway embankment.
