{"id":13691,"date":"2026-01-19T11:44:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T11:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=13691"},"modified":"2026-01-19T11:44:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T11:44:30","slug":"what-we-know-so-far-about-the-spain-train-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=13691","title":{"rendered":"What we know so far about the Spain train crash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline\" class=\"sc-3adb3607-0 fkltMW\"><span data-testid=\"byline-contributors\" class=\"sc-3adb3607-12 csUdlZ\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sc-3adb3607-8 ivQuQW\">Sofia Ferreira Santos<\/span><span class=\"sc-3adb3607-10 cTtxA-d\">and<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sc-3adb3607-8 ivQuQW\">Alicia Curry<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 eRlINq\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/61fa\/live\/6f588870-f52a-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"GUARDIA CIVIL HANDOUT\/EPA A screen grab from a video made available by the Spanish Civil Guard shows agents gathering evidence at the site of the wreckage where, on 18 January 2026, at least 39 people died\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">GUARDIA CIVIL HANDOUT\/EPA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">At least 39 people have died and dozens more have been injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, the country&#8217;s Civil Guard has said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The accident near the city of C\u00f3rdoba, in southern Spain, has been described by local officials as Spain&#8217;s worst rail crash in more than a decade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Later on Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez is expected to visit the scene, where rescue efforts remain ongoing, local media report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Here&#8217;s what we know about the incident so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">Where did the crash happen?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The crash occurred at around 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on Sunday, about an hour after one of the trains departed M\u00e1laga for Madrid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The train derailed and crossed over to the opposite track, operator Adif said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">It then collided with an oncoming train travelling from south Madrid to Huelva, which was forced into an embankment running alongside the track, Spain&#8217;s Transport Minister \u00d3scar Puente said on Sunday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The majority of those killed and injured were in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train, he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 GunZh\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/fbe7\/live\/67d107c0-f526-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A graphic map showing the point of the collision.\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">What caused the crash?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">What caused the train to derail remains unclear. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Officials say an investigation has been launched but it is not expected to determine what happened for at least a month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Puente has described the crash as &#8220;extremely strange&#8221; and said all the railway experts consulted by the government &#8220;are extremely baffled by the accident&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The president of Spain&#8217;s state-owned rail operator, Renfe, said he had &#8220;discarded&#8221; the possibility that the incident occureed due to excessive speed or human error.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">\u00c1lvaro Fern\u00e1ndez Heredia told Spain&#8217;s national radio RNE that even if a mistake had been made, a system within the train would have fixed it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He added that both trains were travelling under the maximum speed limit on the stretch of track where the crash happened. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He suggested a mechanical fault or an infrastructure issue was a more likely cause.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">Are people still trapped in the trains?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">There were around 400 passengers and staff on the two trains, operated by Iryo and Alvia, according to a statement from Renfe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">It is not clear if there are people still trapped inside the carriages but rescue teams are on site. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside,&#8221; Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in C\u00f3rdoba, told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">Who are the victims?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The 39 victims of the crash have not yet been identified, with Puente saying the death toll &#8220;is not yet final&#8221; as investigations begin into the crash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">As of Monday morning, 112 people had received medical assistance, 48 of whom remain hospitalised, local emergency services said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Among the 48 victims still in hospital:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-6f869981-0 diUlgm\">\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">Five are underage, including one who is in intensive care<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">Eleven adults are also in intensive care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">What have the survivors said?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Passengers on board the Madrid-bound train described the moment of impact feeling like an &#8220;earthquake&#8221; and said it shattered the train&#8217;s windows, displaced luggage and threw people to the floor. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed,&#8221; journalist Salvador Jimenez told public broadcaster Canal Sur.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;There were people screaming, calling for doctors,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Another passenger, Lucas Meriako, told Spanish broadcaster La Sexta Noticias he was in the fifth carriage of the same train when he started to &#8220;feel some banging&#8221; that got louder and louder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;Another train passed us and everything started vibrating. There was a jolt behind us and the feeling that the whole train was going to fall apart,&#8221; he described.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Spain #train #crash<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sofia Ferreira Santosand Alici&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[242],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13691"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}