Home / Disasters and Accidents / 41 Dead in Spain's First High-Speed Rail Disaster
41 Dead in Spain's First High-Speed Rail Disaster
20 Jan
Summary
- Rescue efforts use cranes to access worst-hit train carriages.
- At least 41 people confirmed dead in the Sunday high-speed train crash.
- A faulty rail joint is being investigated as a potential cause.
Emergency services in Spain have deployed cranes to access the severely damaged carriages of a high-speed train that derailed and collided near Adamuz, Cordoba. This tragic incident on Sunday evening marks the first fatal accident on Spain's extensive high-speed rail network.
As of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the confirmed death toll stands at 41, with another body recovered overnight. Authorities have received 43 missing-person reports, which broadly aligns with the provisional fatality count. Rescue teams are working to lift the derailed carriages to confirm the final number of casualties.
