At least 44 people were injured, one critically, after a passenger train derailed in Normandy, northern France, on Friday evening. The incident occurred at around 7.30pm local time along the line running between Rouen and Caen, according to French authorities and the national railway operator. The critically injured passengers were evacuated to hospital by helicopter, head of the local authority, the prefect, Jean-Benoit Albertini, told reporters.
A French police spokesperson stated that the train came off the tracks after striking an unidentified object. The service was carrying 180 passengers when it left the rails near the town of Cleon, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said in a post on X. He added that 140 firefighters were deployed to the scene to assist the injured and remaining travellers.
Rail company SNCF confirmed an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident. Meanwhile, the prefecture of Seine-Maritime advised the public to avoid the area. Train services between Rouen and Caen, as well as Caen and Le Havre, were suspended, with replacement buses put in place.
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