High-speed trains collide after one derails in southern Spain, killing at least 21

"A high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an oncoming train Sunday in southern Spain, killing at least people 21 and injuring dozens more, the country's transport minister said. The tail end of an evening train between Malaga and Madrid with some 300 passengers went off the rails near Cordoba at 7:45 p.m. local time and slammed into a train with some 200 passengers coming from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to rail operator Adif."

"Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente updated the death toll to 21 confirmed victims after midnight when he said that rescues had removed all the survivors. But Puente said there could be more victims still to be confirmed. Puente said the causes of the crash were unknown. He called it "a truly strange" incident because it happened on a flat stretch of track that had been renovated in May. He also said the train that jumped the track was less than four years old."

"That train belonged to the private company Iryo, while the second train that took the brunt of the impact of Spain's public train company Renfe. Iryo issued a statement saying it "deeply lamented what has happened" and that it was working with authorities to manage the situation. According to Puente, the back part of the first train derailed and crashed into the head of the other train, knocking its first two carriages off the track and down a four-meter (13-foot) slope."

A high-speed evening train between Malaga and Madrid derailed near Córdoba, jumped onto the opposite track and collided with an oncoming train from Madrid to Huelva. The rear of the first train went off the rails at 7:45 p.m., striking the other train and knocking two carriages off the track and down a four-meter slope. At least 21 people were killed and dozens were injured; 73 injured passengers were taken to six hospitals. The derailed train belonged to private operator Iryo and the struck train belonged to Renfe. The causes remain unknown, the track had been recently renovated, the derailed train was under four years old, and authorities said an inquiry could take about a month.

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