Tourist train overturns in Cártama, Spain, injuring 17 to 18 people

The tourist train serving Cártama's Ruta de la Tapa y el Cóctel overturned late Saturday night, injuring at least 17 people, according to later reporting, after early accounts put the toll at 18.

Four injured passengers, including three minors, were taken to hospitals for evaluation. The town hall said no serious injuries were reported.

What happened

The accident took place in Cártama, in the province of Málaga, around 9:30 p.m. local time on June 13, 2026. The train was operating as a free service for the festival route when one wagon overturned while negotiating a curve or junction.

Emergency calls began soon after the incident. Local police, health services from the regional 061 emergency system, and firefighters from Coín responded to the scene.

Official response

The Ayuntamiento de Cártama said the service was suspended after the overturn. The Guardia Civil opened an investigation into what caused the wagon to tip over.

That cause has not been determined. Reporting has pointed to different possibilities, including the vehicle turning at a junction or taking a curve on the route.

Injury count remains under review

Early reports from firefighters and some media said 18 people were injured. Later emergency and newspaper reporting revised that to at least 17 treated people, with four sent to hospital.

The public records available so far do not identify a final, fully settled count beyond those updates, and officials have not reported any serious injuries.

Festival context

The train was being used as a free shuttle for the town's festival route, which helps visitors move around Cártama Pueblo during the event. That context helps explain why families and children were among those on board.

The next updates are likely to come from the Guardia Civil's investigation, hospital follow-up on the injured, and any decision by the town hall on whether to restart the shuttle later in the festival.