A tragic high-speed train accident occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, near Adamuz in Spain's southern province of Cordoba, resulting in at least 40 fatalities and over 120 injuries. The incident involved an Iryo train, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, which derailed and subsequently collided with an oncoming Renfe train bound for Huelva. Emergency services faced challenges reaching the remote, hilly crash site, which complicated rescue efforts. Initial investigations into the disaster have highlighted a broken joint on the rails as a significant finding. Sources briefed on the probe indicated that technicians identified wear on a 'fishplate' joint, which created a gap between rail sections that widened with continued train traffic. While the investigation is ongoing, human error and speeding have been largely ruled out as primary causes, according to the president of state-owned rail operator Renfe. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed national sorrow, declared three days of national mourning, and vowed a transparent investigation into the causes of the tragedy, cancelling his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos. This devastating event marks Spain's deadliest rail accident since the Santiago de Compostela derailment in 2013, which killed 80 people due to excessive speed. The current crash site near Adamuz is approximately 360 km south of Madrid.