High-Speed Collision in Spain Leaves 39 Dead, Clouds FITUR Opening

A catastrophic high-speed train collision in southern Spain has claimed at least 39 lives and left the nation’s tourism sector in a state of shock, just days before the opening of the FITUR international travel fair in Madrid.

The tragedy occurred late Sunday evening near the town of Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba. According to officials from the rail infrastructure manager ADIF, a private Iryo train traveling from Málaga to the capital derailed on a straight stretch of track, crossing into the path of an oncoming Renfe Alvia service bound for Huelva.

The impact was described by survivors as feeling like a "violent earthquake." The Renfe train bore the brunt of the collision, with its first two carriages being thrown down a 13-foot embankment. Transport Minister Óscar Puente called the incident "tremendously strange," noting that the track had been refurbished as recently as May 2025.

Impact on FITUR 2026

The timing of the disaster could not be worse for Spain’s flagship tourism event, as FITUR is scheduled to begin this Wednesday at the IFEMA convention center.

The immediate suspension of high-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia has caused logistical chaos, stranding hundreds of international delegates and exhibitors who were traveling to the capital for the fair. In response, Iberia has increased flight capacity to Seville and Málaga to assist those displaced by the rail shutdown.

Beyond the immediate travel disruptions, the accident has raised urgent questions regarding the safety of Spain’s AVE network, a central pillar of the country's tourism infrastructure. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum to visit the site, has declared three days of official mourning.

While organizers have confirmed that FITUR will proceed, the usual celebratory atmosphere will be replaced by a somber tone, as the industry grapples with the fallout from the Adamuz tragedy.