The incident occurred near the city of Córdoba, where a high‑speed train traveling at 300 km/h derailed, resulting in 21 confirmed fatalities. According to reports, more than 400 passengers were aboard, marking the worst rail crash in Spain since the 2010s. The derailment unfolded approximately 10 kilometers from the urban center, causing extensive damage to the double‑track corridor and interrupting services across the regional network. The crash, witnessed by a substantial number of commuters and emergency crews, was flagged by automatic track‑monitoring systems that detected a sudden loss of rail integrity; the train’s warning lights triggered in tandem with the derailment, but the kinetic energy of the approaching velocity overcame system safeguards, leading to the catastrophic failure of the track. Emergency response teams arrived within minutes, coordinating search and rescue operations and providing medical assistance to the injured. The Instituto del Ferrocarril de la Comunidad de Madrid confirmed that the priority was stabilizing the wreckage to prevent further derailments, while transportation authorities called for an expedited assessment of the track’s structural health. Key safety protocols, including track-lay conveyor inspection routines, were also reviewed amid the incident. This derailment follows a smaller-scale rail incident in 2012 that caused no fatalities, prompting Spain’s national railway authority to increase safety investments. In light of the current tragedy, officials plan to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into maintenance schedules, signaling integrity, and emergency preparedness, aiming to enhance protocols preventing similar events on high‑speed lines nationwide. _2_ _3_