Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday for the victims of the high-speed train crash that occurred in Adamuz, southern Spain, on Sunday evening, killing at least 43 people.
On Tuesday officials warned that the death toll may still rise, while emergency workers were still probing for bodies among what Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno called ‘a twisted mass of metal’.
The crash took place Sunday at 7.45pm when the tail end of an Iryo train carrying 289 passengers on the route from Malaga to Madrid came off the track. It slammed into an incoming Alvia (Renfe) train travelling from Madrid to Huelva. ALSO READ: At least 40 dead, dozens injured, after high-speed trains collide in southern Spain.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also travelled to the Andalusian province of Córdoba on Tuesday to visit the site of the derailment of the two high-speed trains.
During their visit, they were able to see first-hand the recovery and investigation work currently under way. ALSO READ: Train crash probe points to possible damaged track, amid uncertainty over cause or consequence.
The royals arrived in Adamuz at around 12.30pm and began the scheduled programme of visits at the on-site command post, located beside the crash scene, where they were received by senior officials led by the Andalusian President Moreno.
During the visit, the monarchs were also accompanied by Spain’s First Deputy Prime Minister, María Jesús Montero, and the Transport Minister Puente. ALSO READ: RENFE president: human error ‘practically ruled out’ as cause of high-speed train collision in Andalusia.
They also greeted and thanked representatives of the police and emergency response teams who took part in the rescue operations, as well as volunteers. Among them was Julio Rodríguez, a 16-year-old who was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the tragedy and helped passengers.
They also spoke briefly with members of the Guardia Civil, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), various fire brigades, the local police and Civil Protection services.
Speaking to the press, the teenager said he told the king and queen that when he arrived at the accident site ‘he just wanted to help’. He added that the monarchs thanked him for his assistance ‘at such a difficult time’. His mother told Spain’s public broadcaster TVE, visibly proud, that Felipe and Letizia had told her son he was ‘a very brave boy’.
The monarchs then inspected the area where the derailed train carriages are located and were briefed on the details of the accident. ALSO READ: Sánchez vows ‘to get to the truth’ about cause of train tragedy, as Spain declares three days of mourning.
The royals then travelled to the Poniente Sur Civic Centre in Córdoba and were due to conclude their visit at the Reina Sofía University Hospital, where a number of the injured remain hospitalised. Specifically, 13 adults are still in intensive care, along with four children being treated on general wards.
The train tragedy occurred while the royals were in Athens, where they had travelled to attend the funeral of Princess Irene of Greece, the sister of Queen Sofía (Felipe’s mother), who died last Thursday. They brought forward their return to Spain.
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Los Reyes han saludado y agradecido a vecinos y voluntarios que colaboraron con la primera atención a las víctimas del accidente ferroviario de Adamuz (Córdoba), cuya solidaridad y generosidad fueron esenciales en un momento tan doloroso.
➡️https://t.co/nxhoIm6ZNa pic.twitter.com/Qps0Lmo3B8
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) January 20, 2026
Los Reyes han visitado el Puesto de Mando Avanzado en Adamuz, donde han sido informados con detalle de las labores de rescate y búsqueda que se han llevado a cabo tras el accidente ferroviario.
➡️https://t.co/nxhoIm6ZNa pic.twitter.com/xGYyH3Tq91
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) January 20, 2026
Los Reyes trasladan sus condolencias a los familiares de las personas fallecidas y todo su apoyo a los heridos en el accidente ferroviario de Adamuz.
Asimismo, agradecen el trabajo incansable de los servicios de emergencia y la admirable solidaridad de los vecinos de la zona. pic.twitter.com/fdXpiEMdds
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) January 19, 2026
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