A passenger train derailed on Friday evening on the route between the cities of Rouen and Caen in Normandy, northwest France, local authorities said. The accident occurred near the municipalities of Cleon and Tourville-la-Riviere at around 7:30 p.m. local time (18:30 UTC), according to the Seine-Maritime prefect.

At least 44 people were injured, and one of the injured, a young woman, is in critical condition and was evacuated by helicopter to Rouen, the local authority added. French Transport Minister Tabarot said 140 firefighters were at the scene. The train was carrying around 180 passengers when it derailed, national rail company SNCF and the prefect said.

Local authorities have urged the public to avoid the area. The French rail network operator SNCF Reseau said traffic on the line had been suspended. "The priority is to care for the passengers and then to restore safe operating conditions," SNCF Reseau said. A police spokesperson said the train derailed after hitting an unidentified object. The cause of the accident is being investigated, SNCF said.

This incident raises serious questions about the safety and state of infrastructure of the French railway system. Recently, the country has seen a series of problems related to rail transport. Local residents and experts emphasize the need to strengthen railway safety measures following this accident.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.

Source: www.dw.com