At Least 39 Dead in High-Speed Train Crash in Spain

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 reported. The accident near the city of Córdoba is being described by local officials as Spain's worst rail crash in more than a decade.

The crash occurred around 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on Sunday, shortly after one train had departed Málaga for Madrid. The train derailed and crossed into the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming train traveling from Madrid to Huelva, leading it to crash into an embankment, according to Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente.

As rescue operations unfold, officials have indicated that many victims are from the front carriages of the Huelva-bound train. It is currently uncertain if anyone remains trapped inside the wreckage, and rescue efforts have faced challenges due to the twisted nature of the carriages.

The situation is complicated, said Francisco Carmona, head of the firefighters in Córdoba, noting that the rescue teams have had to navigate debris to reach surviving passengers.

The cause of the derailment remains unclear, with an investigation expected to take at least a month to determine the origins of this tragic event. Puente described the incident as extremely strange, with railway experts expressing their confusion over the circumstances leading to the accident.

As the investigation begins, local emergency services have reported that at least 112 individuals received medical assistance, with 48 remaining hospitalized. Five of those hospitalized are minors, including one in intensive care.