The number of fatalities from the high-speed train crash in Spain has increased to 39.

Spain 19 jan 2026:    The tragic collision that occurred late Sunday in southern Spain has resulted in a rising death toll, now reported at 39, according to Spanish broadcaster RTVE, which cited police sources. The incident involved a high-speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid, carrying approximately 300 passengers, which derailed near Cordoba at around 7:45 PM local time. This train collided with another train, operated by Renfe and carrying about 200 passengers, that was en route from Madrid to Huelva. Spain’s Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, confirmed the death toll had reached 21 shortly after midnight, noting that all survivors had been rescued, although he cautioned that the number of victims could still increase. The cause of the crash remains unclear, with Puente describing the event as “truly strange,” particularly since it occurred on a recently renovated flat section of track and involved a train that was less than four years old, operated by the private company Iryo. The collision resulted in the rear of the first train derailing and impacting the front of the Renfe train, causing significant damage, particularly to the first two carriages, which were knocked off the tracks and down a four-meter slope. In light of the severity of the situation, Andalusia’s regional health chief, Antonio Sanz, reported that 73 injured passengers have been transported to six different hospitals, while Francisco Carmona, the firefighter chief of Cordoba, described the wreckage as severely mangled, with at least four carriages off the rails. Sanz indicated that the situation at the crash site is dire, stating that the night ahead would be particularly challenging, and when pressed about the timeline for an investigation into the causes of the crash, Puente suggested it could take up to a month.