A tragic train accident in northeastern Spain has resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, marking the second devastating rail incident to strike the country within days. The commuter service derailed after colliding with a collapsed retaining wall near Barcelona on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2026.
Emergency Response and Casualty Details
Emergency services in Catalonia confirmed that the crash affected 37 individuals, with five sustaining serious injuries. A further six people received treatment for less severe wounds. The scale of the incident prompted a major emergency deployment, with twenty ambulances rushing to the scene to transport casualties to three local hospitals for urgent medical care.
Location and Probable Cause
The derailment occurred close to the town of Gelida, situated approximately thirty-five minutes from Barcelona. Preliminary investigations by Spain's national railway infrastructure manager, ADIF, suggest that the containment wall likely failed due to the severe weather conditions that have battered the northeastern region throughout the week. Consequently, all train services along this line have been suspended indefinitely.
National Mourning and Previous Tragedy
This latest disaster unfolds as Spain observes three days of national mourning, declared following a separate and catastrophic high-speed train collision on Sunday, January 18. That earlier incident involved a derailment and collision between two trains on the route connecting Malaga and Madrid with Madrid and Huelva, claiming multiple lives.
Recovery operations at the site of Sunday's crash were still ongoing as of Tuesday, with crews working to retrieve more victims. The nation has been plunged into profound grief, with heartfelt condolences pouring in from across the country and beyond.
Political and Personal Reactions
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed the collective sorrow, stating on social media platform X, "Tonight is one of deep sadness for our country. I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims."
The human cost of the earlier collision was poignantly illustrated by personal stories emerging from the tragedy. Among the fatalities were the parents of a young girl, returning from watching a performance of The Lion King musical in Madrid. In another heartbreaking account, Fidel Saez, who also attended the musical, lost his mother in the crash, though his two children, brother, and nephew survived.
Speaking to national broadcaster TVE, Saez recounted, "My brother has been taken off a respirator. He told me that it was a miracle that he is alive. He had to get the children through a window." He added, "He also asked me to tell the story of our mother, how good she was."
These consecutive tragedies have cast a sombre shadow over Spain's rail network, raising urgent questions about infrastructure resilience and safety protocols during extreme weather events.
