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Death toll rises to 39 in Spain's worst train accident for over a decade
Special hotlines have been set up for passengers and their families
#AccidenteFerroviario | Más de 220 guardias civiles, pertenecientes a unidades de Seguridad Ciudadana, Agrupación de Tráfico, GRS y del Servicio Aéreo, continúan trabajando en el dispositivo tras el accidente ferroviario ocurrido en #Adamuz #Córdoba.
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) January 19, 2026
El equipo Central de… pic.twitter.com/8ZiiXL8eHW
The number of victims from Sunday’s devastating train crash near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, has risen to 39 as of this Monday morning, making it the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than 10 years.
Dozens more people remain in hospital as questions mount over how the tragedy could have occurred on a modern high-speed line.
The accident involved an Iryo high-speed train travelling from Málaga to Madrid and a Renfe Alvia service. According to the latest official figures, 39 bodies have now been recovered. A further 29 people are hospitalised, five of them in a very serious condition, while another 123 passengers and crew suffered injuries of varying severity.
This Monday morning, Iryo issued a new statement confirming that the train involved was just four years old and had passed its most recent inspection only four days before the crash. The company reiterated that the cause of the derailment remains unknown.
“It is a new train, manufactured in 2022 and last serviced on 15 January,” Iryo said, echoing comments made earlier by Transport Minister Óscar Puente, who expressed surprise that the accident happened on “a straight section of track”.
In its detailed account, Iryo explained that train 6189 departed Málaga at 6.40pm on Sunday January 18 with 289 passengers, four crew members and a driver on board.
“At 7.45pm, for reasons that are still unknown, the train veered onto the adjacent track,” the statement said, adding that the company felt “deep regret” over the disaster and offering condolences to the families of those who died, as well as solidarity with the injured.
Iryo also confirmed it remains in “constant contact” with the Ministry of Transport, Adif, the Andalusian Regional Government and the local councils of Córdoba and Adamuz.
“At this time, the absolute priority is the people affected,” they said in a statement, adding that they had set up a helpline for passengers and their relatives on 0034 900 001 402.
The family assistance hotline for Renfe is 0034 900 10 10 20.
The British Embassy in Madrid released a statement, saying, “Following today’s railway accident between Madrid and Andalucía, our thoughts are with those affected and their families. If you are a British national please contact us at https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/emergency-help.”
Spain’s last major rail disaster was in 2013 when a high-speed train derailed in Galicia, killing 80 people and injuring 140. Spain has since invested heavily in rail safety and infrastructure, building one of the world’s largest high-speed networks.
The country’s high-speed rail system is the second largest in the world after China, linking more than 50 cities. According to Adif, the network extends over 4,000 kilometres.
Image: Guardia Civil
