A six-year-old girl has lost her parents, brother and cousin in a deadly high-speed rail crash in Spain that claimed the lives of at least 40 people.
Friends and loved ones had launched appeals for the young girl’s missing family earlier today, amid fears they had died in the crash.
The tragedy occurred in Adamuz, near the city of Córdoba, at around 6.40pm local time on Sunday when one train derailed and crossed over onto another track, with a second ploughing into the wreckage.
The head of the regional government of Andalucia, Juan Manuel Moreno, confirmed the death toll had climbed by one on Monday night.
‘There are currently 40 confirmed deaths,’ he told a news conference, adding it will take 24-48 hours ‘to know with certainty how many deaths have resulted from this terrible accident’.
A source told Reuters on Monday night that a broken joint had been found on the track but officials had yet to confirm.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the town the youngster and her family were from said earlier that the girl’s brother had been found in hospital.
But this afternoon, Jose Carlos Hernandez Casino, mayor of Punta Umbria near Huelva, confirmed the boy had died along with as their parents and the cousin.
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Cristina Alvarez (pictured) tragically died in the high-speed Spanish rail crash on Sunday night
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Pepe Zamorano, 12, (pictured, left) and cousin Felix Zamorano (pictured, right) also died in the crash
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At least 40 people are confirmed dead following a high-speed train collision in southern Spain. Pictured: Emergency workers are seen at the site where a high-speed Iryo train derailed and was hit by another train as rescue efforts continue in Adamuz, southern Spain, on January 19, 2026
The couple have been named as Jose Zamorano and shop owner Cristina Alvarez. They were killed alongside their 12-year-old son Pepe Zamorano and cousin Felix Zamorano.
The family was returning from the Spanish capital after going to see the Lion King musical and watching Real Madrid beat LaLiga rivals Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The unnamed girl was looked after by a police officer overnight. She is said to have escaped uninjured.
The six-year-old is now recovering with her grandmother in a hotel in Cordoba after having three stitches to a head wound.
It was not clear this afternoon if she knows what has happened to her relatives.
Mr Casino said in a social media message: ‘I was reluctant to do so because it appealed to hope, but after confirming the discovery of the bodies of the Zamorano Alvarez family members who had been missing since last night as a result of the train accident, I have declared three days of official mourning.
‘We are experiencing these moments with deep sadness and pain. However, we remain hopeful that the two residents of Punta Umbria who are still missing will be found alive, and we continue to closely monitor the progress of the search efforts.
‘I share in the grief of all the families affected and convey to them the support, respect and solidarity of the entire Municipal Corporation and all citizens.
‘During the three days of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast on municipal buildings and all planned institutional events will be suspended as a sign of respect and mourning.’
The town hall published a similar statement.
An old friend of Cristina’s called Sori Ruiz responded by writing: ‘My deepest condolences to the family. May God give them comfort. This is a great loss for everyone.
‘I was shocked by the news. Cristina was my classmate at school, and we spent many years together.
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Officials said some passengers were catapulted through windows, with their bodies found hundreds of yards from the crash site
‘May God rest her soul and give comfort to her family. I cannot imagine the pain felt by her family and loved ones.’
Early this morning Lucia Morales Blanco published a message on X, which read: ‘A family of four from Huelva are still missing. Their names are: Felix Zamorano; Jose Zamorano; Cristina Alvarez and Pepe Zamorano (son).
‘Please, even the smallest piece of information would be of great help, such as people who were on the train or saw these people for a moment.’
Journalist Oscar Toro and his photojournalist wife Maria Clauss are also known to be among those who died in the train crash.
Jaime de Vicente Nunez, president of the Iberoamerican Cultural Association confirmed today on social media: ‘Huelva is in mourning. Our Ibero-American Cultural Association is in mourning.
‘Maria Clauss and Oscar Toro, friends and members of our Association, great professionals and, above all, people of extraordinary human quality, have passed away.
‘May they rest in peace and may we always remember their fruitful work and warm humanity.’
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Members of the Spanish Civil Guard, along with other emergency personnel, work next to one of the trains involved in the accident, at the site of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba, Spain, January 19, 2026.
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The crash occurred on Sunday evening when the tail end of a train carrying some 300 passengers on the route from Malaga to the capital, Madrid, went off the rails
Friend Gabriel Cruz wrote in a tribute: ‘Incredulous and stunned. A tragedy that devastates us. Deep sorrow for the victims and their families, for the friend who is gone.
‘Oscar Toro and María Claus were travelling on that train. With them, a little piece of ourselves is gone. Kind and generous people.
‘I was fortunate to share many moments of friendship and camaraderie with Oscar, both in his role as President of the Huelva Journalists’ Association and as a councillor in the socialist group. Also outside the workplace.
‘All my love to the families of the victims. A kiss for María and Oscar.’
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