A high-speed train derailed and smashed into an oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, leaving at leaving at least 21 people dead and dozens of others injured. The accident happened near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km (223 miles) south of the capital Madrid. Andalusian Regional Government Health Minister Antonio Sanz told local media that the situation is complex and the death toll could be higher. He also said at least 75 people were injured and are being treated at six different hospitals. The accident occurred when a high-speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed at the entrance to Adamuz and crossed onto the adjacent track, on which another train traveling from Madrid to Huelva was running. This caused the second train to also derail, said the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif), the public manager of the railway network. Of the 75 people hospitalised, 15 are in serious condition, the chief of Andalucia's regional government, Juanma Moreno, told reporters early on Monday. "The forcefulness of the accident has been very strong ... we will likely find (more) corpses," Moreno said, adding that heavy machinery would need to be used to remove the trains' wrecked metal pieces and try to locate any new victims. El Pais newspaper reported that the 27-year-old driver of the Madrid-to-Huelva train, the one that was struck, was among the dead. There were around 400 passengers on the two trains, most of them Spaniards travelling back to and from Madrid after the weekend. It was unclear how many tourists could be onboard as January is not holiday season in Spain. The first train to derail was the Iryo 6189, which was carrying approximately 300 people, the operating company said in a statement. Iryo expressed regret for the incident. It announced that it had activated emergency protocols and was working with authorities to manage the situation. High-speed rail service between Madrid and Andalusia is suspended, and trains traveling on the Seville-Madrid line are being redirected to their point of origin, according to Adif. Staff from the railway operator are working in the area in coordination with emergency services and railway companies.zSpain's national railway company Renfe said emergency services have been deployed to help the passengers. Psychological support teams and information points have also been set up for victims and their families. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences to the victims' families and loved ones, saying the country is suffering a "night of deep pain." Spain's royal family also extended condolences and said it is following developments with "great concern." Sanchez cleared his schedule for Monday to address the tragedy, while the King and Queen were following the developments with concern, a spokesperson said. Foreign embassies sent text messages to staff asking them to confirm they were safe. Adamuz Mayor Rafael Moreno told El Pais that he was among the first to reach the crash site alongside the local police and saw what he believed to be a badly lacerated body several metres from the accident site. "The scene is horrific," he said. "I don't think they were on the same track, but it's not clear. Now the mayors and residents of the area are focused on helping the passengers." The cause for the crash is not yet known, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente told reporters at a press conference at Atocha station in Madrid, adding it was "really strange" that a derailment should have happened on a straight stretch of track. This section of track was renewed in May, he added. — Agencies
