BBC Breakfast halted for devastating breaking news minutes into broadcast

BBC Breakfast star Sally Nugent shared a heartbreaking news update at the start of Monday’s live show

BBC Breakfast was halted for devastating breaking news just minutes into Monday’s (January 19) live broadcast. Today’s edition of the hit morning programme was hosted by Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, who updated viewers on the latest news from across the UK and around the world.

They were joined in the studio by Carol Kirkwood, who delivered regular weather forecasts, while Emma Vardy and Ben Croucher shared business and sports updates, respectivelyshow

At the start of the show, Sally shared news of a high-speed train collision in Spain, which has killed at least 39 people and left dozens more injured. She announced: “At least 21 people have been killed in Southern Spain after two trains collided. It happened near the town of Adamuz when a train heading towards Madrid derailed and hit another on the other side of the tracks. More than 30 passengers are being treated for serious injuries in hospital.”

Sally later confirmed that the death toll had sadly risen. Footage of the scene shortly after the collision then appeared on screen, with reporter Barry Caffrey explaining the harrowing situation in a pre-recorded segment.

Sally Nugent shared devastating news on Monday (Image: BBC)

He said: “A train en route from Malaga to Madrid near the city of Córdoba in Andalusia, crossing onto the other track, where it hit another train. One passenger described the moment of impact as feeling like an earthquake and said survivors had crashed windows to escape.

“Military personnel were dispatched to help with the rescue effort. Iryo, a private rail company that operated the journey from Malaga, said around 300 passengers were on board the train that first derailed, while the other train, operated by Renfe, had around 100 passengers on board. Though the cause of the crash is not yet known, Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, told reporters it was very strange that the derailment had happened on a straight section of track.

“While rail travel is generally very safe and reliable in Spain, this incident will no doubt bring back memories of a derailment in 2013, when a train left the tracks outside Santiago de Compostela in the northwest of the country. 79 people were killed in what was the worst rail accident in Spain for more than 40 years.”

Barry continued: “King Felipe and Queen Letizia said they were following news of this latest incident with great concern. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the government was working with the emergency services to help those affected.”

A high-speed train collision has taken place in Spain (Image: BBC)

The type of train involved in the crash was a Freccia 1000, which can reach speeds of up to 400 km/h (250 mph), a spokesperson for the Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato told Reuters. Rescue teams said the twisted wreckage of the trains made it challenging to recover people who were trapped inside the carriages.

Córdoba fire chief Francisco Carmona told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE: “We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.”

All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the accident, and are expected to remain closed all day on Monday.

Elsewhere on today’s BBC Breakfast, Sally and Jon shared political updates as the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, prepared to address the nation on Monday. This comes after US President Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on the UK and other countries that oppose his plan to buy Greenland. The BBC show also provided news on Prince Harry’s return to the UK ahead of a high-stakes court battle.