At Least 21 People Killed in Spain's High-Speed Train Crash

JAKARTA - At least 21 people were killed and dozens more injured when a train accident occurred in Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain, on Sunday, according to local authorities.

The Spanish railway authority, ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), in a post on social media announced that the accident occurred when a high-speed train from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, crossed another track and hit a train coming from the opposite direction, which also derailed.

A police spokesman initially told AFP that five people had died after an accident in Cordoba, but immediately after that the number of victims was updated to 21 people, launching RFI from AFP (19/1).

Spanish media reports indicate a total of 400 people were on both trains.

Meanwhile, Antonio Sanz, the highest emergency official in the southern Andalusia region, said in a press conference that at least 73 people were injured.

Spanish media said the number could reach 100 with passengers trapped inside the carriages.

"The problem is that the carriages are bent, so the metal is bent with the people inside," Francisco Carmona, head of the fire department in Cordoba, told RTVE.

"We even have to remove the dead person to be able to reach someone who is still alive. This is a difficult and complicated job," he added.

A witness told RTVE, one of the first train carriages had been completely overturned. Television images showed medical teams and firefighters at the scene.

A journalist from public broadcaster RNE who was travelling on one of the trains said the collision felt like "an earthquake".

Passengers used emergency hammers to break the train car windows and get out, he said.

Lucas Meriako, who was travelling on the first train to derail, told La Sexta television: "It looks like a horror movie".

"We felt a very strong impact from behind and the feeling that the whole train would collapse, many were injured by glass shards," he said.

As a result of the incident, high-speed train services between Madrid and the Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Huelva will be suspended at least until Monday, ADIF announced.

ADIF said places had been prepared at stations in Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Huelva to help the families of the victims.

Separately, the Royal Palace said in a post on X, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia followed the news "with great concern", expressing "our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died, as well as our love and hope for a speedy recovery for those injured".

Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, with more than 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) of dedicated track linking major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Malaga.