Updated ,first published
Madrid: A high-speed train has derailed in southern Spain, jumping onto the track in the opposite direction and hitting an oncoming train, the Spanish rail operator Adif says.
At least 10 people were killed in the accident near Adamuz, in Cordoba province, Spain’s Civil Guard said. National broadcaster RTVE reported that 100 people have been injured, 25 seriously.
Social media images showed one carriage off the rails and tilted at an angle, with emergency workers attempting to rescue passengers through its broken windows.
“The Iryo 6189 Malaga to Madrid train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train, which was travelling on the adjacent track, has also derailed,” Adif said in a social media post.
Adif said the accident happened at 6.40pm (5.40am Monday, AEDT) about 10 minutes after the Iryo train left Cordoba heading towards Madrid.
Iryo is a private rail operator, majority-owned by Italian state-controlled railway group Ferrovie dello Stato. The train involved was a Freccia 1000 train, a spokesperson for Ferrovie dello Stato said.
Iryo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spanish police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente told the London Telegraph that the other train involved was operated by the state rail company RENFE. The impact was “terrible”, Puente said, describing the incident as “very serious”.
Puente said the rear carriages of the Iryo service left the rails, where they hit the RENFE train heading south.
Adif has suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia.
Andalusia emergency services said at least nine ambulances and emergency support vehicles had been sent to the scene.
Reuters, AP
More to come
