At least seven people were killed when a train traveling in a southern suburb of Paris derailed and crashed in a station platform.
Officials said there were "many casualties" after the intercity train from Paris to Limoges, a city in central France, hit the platform at Bretigny-sur-Org, 16 miles south of the capital around 5 p.m. Friday.
"The train arrived at the station at high speed. It split in two for an unknown reason," police said. "Part of the train continued to roll while the other was left on its side on the platform.”
Initial reports said passengers were crushed and electrocuted during the accident.
Jean-Paul Boulet, of France's SNCF, the state-owned rail company, said the train was carrying some 350 passengers.
Some of the survivors were reportedly trapped inside the train, and local MP Michel Pouzol said four of the train cars had come to rest on their side.
Read More
- Edward Snowden meets with rights activists [VIDEO]
- New York building collapse: Investigators find multiple safety violations
- Typhoon Soulik to deliver direct hit to Taiwan
- Canadian train wreck death toll may rise as more victims found
- Mom sued by rail company after son killed in collision
- Quebec releases assistance to Lac-Megantic
- 20 bodies found in Canadian runaway train disaster, 30 still missing
