Passenger train derails in France, leaving 44 injured, 1 critical

A passenger train traveling between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen derailed on Friday evening, leaving dozens injured, local officials said. The incident occurred at approximately 7:45pm (17:45 GMT) while 186 people were aboard; authorities reported 44 passengers sustained injuries and one person, an 18-year-old woman, was transferred in critical condition.

Local emergency services activated a mass-casualty plan and dispatched a large response contingent to the scene, including 130 firefighters, five medical teams and around 80 vehicles. One passenger described the event as a sudden series of jolts that rapidly intensified, with some windows breaking and debris from the track entering the carriage; he said he remained shaken after the derailment.

SNCF Reseau, which manages the national rail network, said it suspended traffic on the affected line and cut power to the tracks to allow emergency crews to work. The company emphasized that caring for passengers and restoring safe operating conditions were the immediate priorities.

Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois said tests on the train driver for drugs and alcohol returned negative. Rail authorities and police have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment, officials added.