Khaberni - At least 21 people were killed and 100 others were injured on Sunday evening in southern Spain in an accident between two high-speed trains, according to a toll reported by the police and the Civil Guard to AFP and Reuters.
The Spanish royal family expressed its "deep concern" about this "serious accident" in a statement, and offered "heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was closely following the accident involving the two high-speed trains that derailed in the Ademoth area. He added that his government is working with the relevant authorities and emergency teams to assist the passengers.
The Spanish railway network (ADIF), via the X platform, announced that high-speed train movement between Madrid and the cities of Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, and Huelva (cities in southern Spain) will be suspended throughout Monday, January 19th, at least.
Emergency services in the Andalusia region where the accident occurred confirmed that 25 were seriously injured in the collision of the two trains, which were carrying hundreds of passengers.
A train operated by company Erio, traveling from Malaga (south) to Madrid, derailed near Ademoth, which is about 190 kilometers north of Malaga, "and veered onto the adjacent track," where it collided with another train, derailing it as well, according to what the administration of the Spanish railway network (ADIF) explained.
Trapped and Earthquake
Andalusian rescue services reported that passengers are still trapped in carriages.
A spokeswoman for the emergency services in the area said that health services have been put on alert and have so far deployed 5 intensive care units, in addition to fire brigades.
Images broadcasted by the public channel "TVE" showed the collided trains surrounded by a crowd of people, while ambulances spread out and emergency teams worked to aid the injured.
A correspondent for the public radio "RNE" who was traveling on one of the trains, told the public channel "TVE" that the collision was like an "earthquake" that shook the train.
He continued to say that passengers took emergency hammers to break the windows and exit the train.
According to Spanish media, the Erio train was carrying more than 300 people, and the other train operated by the Spanish national company "Renfe," more than 100 people.
