Spain has declared three days of national mourning after a high-speed collision near Adamuz, Andalusia, that has left 41 people dead and more than 120 injured. Investigators are concentrating on coach six of the private Iryo train and have found a broken rail joint that could be a key lead, though it is not yet clear whether the rail damage caused the derailment or resulted from it. Officials caution it may take weeks to reach definitive conclusions as rescue and forensic work continues. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited the scene while the country mourns.
Spain Declares Three Days of Mourning After Deadly High-Speed Train Crash — Death Toll Rises to 41
A crashed train remains on the train tracks on January 19, 2026 after yesterday's train collision in Adamuz, Spain. / Credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty(Pablo Blazquez Dominguez / Getty Images)
Spain on Tuesday began three days of national mourning after the country's deadliest rail disaster in more than a decade. Officials confirmed the death toll had risen to 41 following a late‑night high-speed collision near Adamuz in Andalusia, when a private Iryo service traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided with an oncoming Renfe train operated by Spain's public rail network.
What Happened
The Iryo train is believed to have derailed first, with investigators concentrating on coach six, which they say was the first carriage to leave the tracks. That carriage has been asked to remain where it came to rest so forensic and mechanical teams can examine it thoroughly. Rescue crews used heavy machinery to lift badly damaged carriages to widen access to the site as recovery efforts continued.
Investigation Under Way
Authorities have not determined a definitive cause. Investigators reported finding a broken rail joint at the scene that likely created a gap which could have widened as trains passed over it. The damaged joint may prove crucial, but officials caution it is not yet clear whether rail fractures caused the derailment or were a consequence of it.
Emergency teams carry away injured and deceased after the derailment of two high-speed trains in the municipality of Adamuz, Spain, Jan. 19, 2026. / Credit: Europa Press News/Getty
"There are many pieces of the puzzle we must fit together," Transport Minister Oscar Puente said on Onda Cero radio, calling the crash "extremely strange" because it occurred on a straight stretch of track that had been renovated in May. "For the first fracture in the track, the key is to determine — and currently no expert can say for certain — if this fracture was a cause or a consequence."
Spain's chief high-speed train engineer, Álvaro Aznar, told CBS News that "earliest signs point to mechanical failure" as a possible factor, but officials warned it could take weeks or longer to reach definitive conclusions.
Human Impact and Response
Local residents were among the first to assist at the scene. One volunteer who helped ferry survivors away described horrific injuries: "There were people with missing limbs. They were crying." More than 120 people were reported injured, with 39 still hospitalized on Tuesday, including four children. The regional government said the death toll rose after rescuers found another passenger's body inside an Iryo carriage.
Across Spain, flags flew at half-mast, television studios adopted black attire, and government officials scaled back public appearances. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Adamuz to meet rescue workers and local officials. Andalusia's regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno, said it could take another 24 to 48 hours to determine the full number of fatalities as recovery and identification work continued.
Note: Investigations remain ongoing and authorities urge the public and media to avoid speculation while experts examine mechanical, track, and operational factors that could explain the tragedy.
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