Over 40 dead, several injured as high-speed trains collide in southern Spain

At least 21 people were killed after a high-speed train derailed and collided with another oncoming train in southern Spain, pushing one of the trains off the tracks and down an embankment. The accident occurred near Adamuz in the Cordoba province, around 360 kilometres south of Madrid, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

Authorities said around 75 people were hospitalised following the crash, with at least 15 in serious condition. Regional officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue to search the wreckage, with heavy machinery being used to access mangled carriages and reach trapped passengers.

The collision involved a Malaga-to-Madrid high-speed train that derailed and struck a Madrid-to-Huelva train travelling on an adjacent track at an estimated speed of around 200 kmph. There were nearly 400 passengers aboard the two trains, most of them travelling to or from Madrid after the weekend.

Rescue visuals from the site showed emergency workers pulling injured passengers from twisted carriages under floodlights, while others escaped through shattered windows. Several passengers described scenes of panic, screaming and falling luggage moments after the impact.

The cause of the derailment and collision is not yet known, with the transport minister calling the incident unusual as it occurred on a straight stretch of track that was recently upgraded. Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended, while authorities continue investigations and rescue efforts.

Over 40 dead, as per latest reports.