Spanish PM announces three days of mourning after high-speed train crash

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced three days of mourning, following a high-speed train crash that killed at least 39 people in the southern province of Cordoba.

More than 100 others were also injured after two high-speed trains collided near the city of Adamuz, authorities said on Monday.

PM Sanchez announced three days of mourning would begin Monday evening and promised authorities would investigate the incident to the fullest, according to broadcaster RTVE.

"We will find the truth, we will find the answers, and when we know it, we will announce it to the public with absolute transparency and clarity," said Prime Minister Sanchez, launching Anadolu (19/1).

Meanwhile, the Railway Accident Investigation Committee reportedly launched an investigation into the incident.

The accident occurred Sunday night at around 19.40 local time, when a train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, and entered the adjacent railway line.

This caused the second train heading south from Madrid to Huelva to derail. Regional authorities said two Alvia train carriages fell down a slope as deep as four meters (13 feet), complicating rescue efforts, reported El Pais.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said five of the injured are still in critical condition, while 24 others, including four minors, suffered serious injuries. More than 120 people suffered minor to moderate injuries.

Emergency services deployed large-scale resources to the scene, including mobile intensive care units, ambulances, logistics vehicles, and medical posts to triage and stabilize victims before transferring them to hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Military Emergency Unit also sent around 40 personnel and 15 vehicles to assist in the rescue operation.

Andalusia regional president Juan Manuel Moreno, visiting the crash site, called it a "very difficult day for Andalusia."

He said authorities would provide a more accurate figure after identification was complete.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Oscar Puente called the accident "very strange", noting that the accident occurred on a straight section of the line that had been renovated in May.

He said the independent commission would investigate whether the cause was related to infrastructure or railway facilities.

In the wake of the accident, train traffic between Madrid and several cities in Andalusia, including Seville, Malaga, Cordoba and Huelva, was also suspended on Monday.

Train operator Renfe said more than 130 services were cancelled and offered free changes and refunds to affected passengers.

ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), the Spanish railway infrastructure manager, set up a help line to assist the families of the victims.

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.

One of the country's deadliest train disasters occurred in 2013, when a high-speed train traveling from Madrid to Galicia derailed, killing 79 people and injuring 179 others.