At least 39 people have died and dozens more have been injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, the country's Civil Guard has said.
The accident near the city of Córdoba, in southern Spain, has been described by local officials as Spain's worst rail crash in more than a decade.
According to reports, the crash occurred at around 19:45 local time on Sunday, shortly after one of the trains departed Málaga for Madrid. The train derailed and crossed over to the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming train traveling from Madrid to Huelva.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente mentioned that the majority of those killed and injured were located in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train.
What caused the crash?
The reason behind the train derailment remains a mystery, and officials have initiated an investigation, expecting results in at least a month.
Puente referred to the incident as extremely strange, reporting that consulting railway experts are baffled by the occurrence.
Rescue and Victims
Approximately 400 passengers and crew were aboard the two trains. Currently, it is unclear whether anyone remains trapped inside the carriages, though rescue operations are ongoing.
Firefighter Francisco Carmona described the situation, revealing that rescuers have encountered difficulties due to the twisted nature of the carriages, complicating their efforts to reach potential survivors.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and as of Monday morning, 112 people had been treated, with 48 remaining in hospitals, several of whom are in critical condition, including minors.
