Álvaro Fernández Heredia

Built World

Coordinating victim assistance

Spain's high-speed rail network had operated without a fatal accident on dedicated lines for 34 years. That ended on January 18, 2026, when an Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz and collided head-on with a Renfe Alvia service, killing 45 people and injuring 292. A preliminary investigation report published January 23 confirmed that a 30-centimeter crack in the track caused the derailment, though whether the fracture resulted from poor welding, fatigue, or deterioration remains under analysis.

Updated Feb 6