Passenger train derails in France leaving at least 44 injured
France's transport minister says 180 passengers were on board the train operating the Rouen-Caen route in Normandy.
Passenger train derails in France, leaving at least 44 injured
French police have cordoned off the crash site near the commune of Cléon.
Local officials said at least 44 people were injured, including one seriously, after a passenger train derailed in northern France.
An 18-year-old woman was airlifted by helicopter to hospital in critical condition.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said there were 180 passengers aboard the train, which was running between Rouen and Caen in Normandy.
He said 140 firefighters and other emergency crews were being sent to the scene of the crash on Friday evening near the commune of Cléon, just south of Rouen.
The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear.
Authorities activated a mass-casualty response plan after the crash, which happened shortly before 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
Photos later showed passengers leaving the derailed train, while French media reported that three carriages had overturned.
France’s state-owned rail operator SNCF said there were "significant disruptions" on its routes in the area and that replacement buses would be available.
Officials urged the public to stay away from the area.