By Eniola Ambosege
No fewer than 39 passengers have been confirmed dead following a devastating train collision in eastern Spain, triggering scenes of grief and shock in affected communities.
The tragic incident occurred near Cรณrdoba on Sunday after two trains collided, reportedly following the derailment of one of the trains, which veered off its track and slammed into an oncoming high-speed train travelling on the adjacent line.
Authorities disclosed that the two trains were carrying an estimated 400 passengers at the time of the crash. Emergency responders swiftly mobilised to the scene, rescuing and treating 122 injured passengers. Of this number, 48 victims โ including children โ remain hospitalised, while 11 adults and one child are currently receiving intensive care.
Spainโs Minister of Transport, รscar Puente, described the accident as โextremely strangeโ and one of the deadliest rail disasters the country has witnessed in over a decade.
โThe force of the impact pushed the carriages of the second train into an embankment,โ Puente said, noting that most of the fatalities were recorded in the front carriages of the train travelling from Madrid to Huelva.
Confirming the challenges faced during rescue operations, Cรณrdoba Fire Chief, Francisco Carmona, said the mangled wreckage significantly hampered efforts to reach trapped passengers.
โThe twisted metal made access very difficult. In some cases, we had to remove the body of a deceased person to reach someone still alive. It has been extremely hard and delicate work,โ Carmona stated.
Spanish authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the accident, assuring the public that further details will be made available as inquiries progress.
Meanwhile, rescue and recovery operations are ongoing, as officials work to account for all passengers and provide support to victims and their families.
