A passenger train travelling between Rouen and Caen derailed near the commune of Cléon south of Rouen on Friday evening. At least 44 people were injured, including one seriously. Local officials activated a mass-casualty response plan shortly before 20:00 local time.
Incident details
The train carried 180 passengers when it left the tracks while operating between Rouen and Caen in Normandy. French media reported that three carriages overturned. An 18-year-old woman was airlifted in critical condition to hospital by helicopter. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed the figures and stated that 140 firefighters and emergency teams were deployed to the site. The crash occurred shortly before 20:00 local time, which is 18:00 GMT. Photographs later emerged showing passengers leaving the crashed train. Local authorities activated a mass-casualty response plan after the incident near Cléon, just south of Rouen. The source does not report the cause of the derailment or provide further details on the condition of other passengers.
Response and disruption
Authorities activated the mass-casualty plan after the crash. France’s state-owned railway operator SNCF reported significant disruptions on routes in the area and arranged replacement buses for affected passengers. The deployment of 140 firefighters and other emergency teams addressed the scene on Friday evening. The train was carrying 180 passengers at the time of the derailment, with at least 44 people injured including one seriously. An 18-year-old woman received helicopter transport in critical condition. Three carriages overturned according to French media reports. The mass-casualty response plan was activated shortly before 20:00 local time. No additional information is given on long-term service restoration or the exact injuries sustained by the remaining passengers.
Key takeaways
- At least 44 injured, one serious; 18-year-old woman critical and airlifted.
- 180 passengers on Rouen-Caen train; three carriages overturned.
- 140 emergency personnel deployed near Cléon; mass-casualty plan activated before 20:00 local time.
- SNCF providing replacement buses amid significant local disruptions.