High-speed trains collide in southern Spain, killing at least 10

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 have been 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.

The Sunday evening train between Malaga and Madrid derailed and hit a train travelling from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to Adif.

Spanish police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

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,” said Adif, which runs the rail network, in a social media post.

Passengers wait for updates in Madrid as services were suspended after the collision.Credit: AP

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.

Adif has suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia.

Andalusia emergency services said on social media that all rail traffic had been halted, and emergency services were on their way, including at least nine ambulances and emergency support vehicles.

Reuters, AP

More to come

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