Train derailment in north-west France leaves 44 injured, one critically

A train carrying 186 passengers derailed in north-west France on Friday, injuring 44 people, one critically, officials reported. The incident occurred while the train was en route between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed the derailment via social media platform X, stating it happened around 7:45 pm local time.

Emergency services, including 130 firefighters, five medical teams, and 80 vehicles, were dispatched to the scene. One passenger, Louis, 24, recounted the harrowing experience, describing sudden jolts followed by increasingly intense shaking. Windows partially shattered, stones from the track penetrated the carriage, and he expressed ongoing shock.

Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois reported that 44 individuals sustained injuries, with an 18-year-old woman among them in a critical condition. Drug and alcohol tests conducted on the train driver returned negative results. SNCF Reseau, responsible for the French rail network, suspended traffic on the line and cut power to the tracks to facilitate emergency response efforts. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.