Woman critical, 43 others injured in France train derailment

A passenger train carrying nearly 200 people derailed in northwestern France on Friday, leaving one woman critically injured and 43 others hurt.

The train was travelling between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen when it derailed at about 7:45 p.m., according to local authorities.

Emergency officials activated a mass-casualty response plan as rescue teams rushed to evacuate injured passengers and secure the scene.

Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois confirmed that 44 people sustained injuries, including a woman who was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Tests conducted on the train driver returned negative results, Gallois added. Authorities did not immediately disclose what substances the driver was tested for.

France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed the derailment in a post on X.

SNCF Reseau, which manages the country’s rail infrastructure, suspended services on the affected route and cut power to the tracks to allow emergency workers to operate safely.

“The priority is to care for the passengers and then to restore safe operating conditions,” the rail operator said.

Police and railway authorities have opened investigations to establish what caused the train to derail.

Dear Vows