In southern Spain, a high-speed train derailed and collided with another, killing 39 people and wounding over 120, according to police on Monday. They described the nation’s worst train accident in more than ten years as “extremely strange”.
It was the bloodiest train catastrophe since 2013, when a train drove off a curved portion of track outside of Santiago de Compostela in the northwest, killing 80 people.
On Sunday night, a train operated by the rail firm Iryo that was traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed close to Adamuz. It then crossed into the opposite track and collided with an approaching train that had also derailed.
The interior ministry said at least 39 people died, raising the toll from 21 given by police late on Sunday.
Another 123 people were injured, including five very seriously and 24 seriously, a ministry spokeswoman added.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente told reporters the disaster took place on a straight part of the track, which was completely renovated,.
The first train to derail was “practically new”, making the accident “extremely strange”, he added.
Rail experts “are very surprised by this accident because it is very strange and very difficult to explain at this stage,” the minister said.
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