A passenger train carrying 180 people derailed in northern France on Friday evening, resulting in 44 injuries, one of them critical. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. local time on tracks between Rouen and Caen.
According to a spokesperson for the French police, the train went off the rails near the town of Cleon in Normandy after striking an unidentified object on the track. French transport minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed the details in a post on X.
One carriage overturned and four others derailed. French television station BFMTV reported that an 18-year-old sustained serious injuries and was in critical condition. The remaining 43 passengers suffered minor injuries. The teenager was airlifted to Rouen University Hospital, while the other injured were transported to Cleon Town Hall.
Approximately 140 firefighters responded to the scene to assist the injured and other passengers. The local authority for Seine-Maritime advised the public to avoid the area.
SNCF, the French national railway company, announced that train services between Rouen and Caen, and between Caen and Le Havre, were suspended. A replacement bus service will be implemented.
A 24-year-old passenger described the event as a sudden and violent series of jolts that intensified over seconds. He reported that windows shattered, and debris flew through the carriage, creating a shocking scene.