Passenger train derails in France leaving at least 44 injured

What the report says

A passenger train derailed in northern France on Friday evening, injuring at least 44 people, including one person described as seriously hurt. BBC World News reported that local officials said an 18-year-old woman was airlifted to hospital in critical condition after the crash near the commune of Cléon, just south of Rouen in Normandy.

France’s transport minister, Philippe Tabarot, said 180 passengers were aboard the train, which was operating on the Rouen-to-Caen route. Emergency services responded in large numbers, with about 140 firefighters and other teams sent to the scene. Authorities activated a mass-casualty response plan shortly after the derailment, which happened before 20:00 local time. The cause was not immediately known.

Images and local media reports indicated that passengers were able to leave the train and that multiple carriages may have overturned. French police sealed off the crash area, and the public was told to avoid it. SNCF, France’s state-owned rail operator, said the incident caused significant disruption on nearby routes and that replacement buses would be arranged.

The derailment is likely to draw attention to rail safety and emergency response procedures in the region. BBC World News noted that the investigation into what caused the accident was still under way.