A devastating high-speed train collision occurred near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, Spain, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, resulting in at least 39 confirmed fatalities and over 150 injuries. The incident involved two high-speed trains: an Iryo service traveling from Málaga to Madrid and a Renfe Alvia train heading from Madrid to Huelva. Reports indicate that the Iryo train derailed, with several carriages crossing onto an adjacent track, leading to a violent collision with the oncoming Alvia train. This tragic event is considered one of Spain's deadliest railway disasters in recent years. Following the accident, Pope Leo XIV expressed his profound sorrow and offered prayers and condolences for the victims and their families. In a telegram sent on January 19, 2026, by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, on behalf of the Pope, he conveyed his spiritual closeness and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Pope also encouraged rescue teams to persevere in their ongoing relief and assistance efforts at the site. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning and vowed a thorough investigation into the cause of the collision, which occurred on a supposedly recently renovated, straight stretch of track, leading officials to describe the accident as 'tremendously strange.'