Rescue crews worked overnight to help passengers trapped inside damaged carriages

At least 21 people have been killed and dozens more injured after two high-speed passenger trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening.

The crash occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to Cordoba, at 18:40 local time (17:40 GMT), according to Spain's rail infrastructure administration, Adif. A high-speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto a neighboring track around ten minutes after departure.

A second high-speed train traveling in the opposite direction, from Madrid to Huelva, also derailed following the collision. Private rail operator Iryo, which ran the Malaga-Madrid service, confirmed that around 300 passengers were on board at the time of the incident.

At least 21 people were confirmed dead, as rescue crews continued overnight efforts to evacuate passengers trapped inside damaged carriages. Another 73 people were seriously injured, according to Andalusian emergency services.

Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVE who was on one of the trains, said the impact "felt like an earthquake." In a later post on X, he said passengers were waiting in the "freezing night" for buses to take them to the Adamuz sports center.

Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the accident, with affected stations remaining open overnight. Adif said support areas for relatives had been established at major stations in Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Huelva.

Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said the government was coordinating with emergency services as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.

The Royal Palace said on X that King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were following news of the disaster "with great concern" and extended their "most heartfelt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the dead."