A train tragedy rocked southern Spain on Sunday when two high-speed trains, carrying hundreds of passengers, collided. According to emergency services, 21 people died while more than 70 were injured.
The accident occurred when a train from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz and crossed over to the other track, colliding with another oncoming train. Both trains were derailed, reported Adif, the Spanish rail authority.
According to a police officer, it was initially reported that 5 people were killed, but the number later rose to 21. Antonio Sanz, head of emergency services in Andalusia, said that 73 people were injured, and that the number could reach 100 because some passengers were trapped inside the carriages.
Witnesses said the carriages were upside down and twisted, making it difficult to rescue people. "We had to remove the dead before we could reach the living passengers," said Francisco Carmona, head of the Cordoba fire department. Another witness said the impact felt like an "earthquake", forcing them to use emergency hammers to get out.
High-speed rail services on the Madrid-Cordoba-Seville-Malaga-Huelva route were suspended throughout Monday. Adif has prepared rescue and support areas at major stations for the families of the victims. The king and queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, expressed deepest condolences to the dead and injured.
