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| Deadly French train crash at Bretigny-sur-Orge | Deadly French train crash at Bretigny-sur-Orge |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Six people have been killed and 26 injured in a train crash at Bretigny-sur-Orge, south of the French capital Paris, the interior ministry has said. | |
| The intercity train had just left Paris and was heading towards Limoges when it derailed, crashing into a station platform at 17:14 (16:14 GMT). | The intercity train had just left Paris and was heading towards Limoges when it derailed, crashing into a station platform at 17:14 (16:14 GMT). |
| Passengers were said to be trapped inside the train. | Passengers were said to be trapped inside the train. |
| Guillaume Pepy, head of the French rail company SNCF, described the accident as a "catastrophe". | Guillaume Pepy, head of the French rail company SNCF, described the accident as a "catastrophe". |
| The company said 385 passengers were on board when it crashed. | The company said 385 passengers were on board when it crashed. |
| Four carriages derailed, one of which was on its side on the track. The three coaches at the head of the train were upright on the track, it said. | Four carriages derailed, one of which was on its side on the track. The three coaches at the head of the train were upright on the track, it said. |
| French President Francois Hollande has arrived at the crash site and is meeting emergency officials. | French President Francois Hollande has arrived at the crash site and is meeting emergency officials. |
| Interior Minister Manuel Valls told reporters seven people had died and dozens were hurt in what was a "constantly evolving" situation. Another interior ministry later put the number of deaths at six, with another 9 people seriously hurt and 17 lightly injured. | Interior Minister Manuel Valls told reporters seven people had died and dozens were hurt in what was a "constantly evolving" situation. Another interior ministry later put the number of deaths at six, with another 9 people seriously hurt and 17 lightly injured. |
| Some of the wounded were transferred to hospital by helicopter, interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. | Some of the wounded were transferred to hospital by helicopter, interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. |
| Bretigny mayor and local MP Michel Pouzol said four of the carriages were lying wrecked on the station platform. | Bretigny mayor and local MP Michel Pouzol said four of the carriages were lying wrecked on the station platform. |
| He said the emergency services were responding to a "red alert", put into action when many casualties are expected. | He said the emergency services were responding to a "red alert", put into action when many casualties are expected. |
| Mr Pepy said the train's third and fourth carriages derailed first and the other coaches followed. | |
| "Shortly after departure, just as I was getting into my book, we felt a first shock that shook the carriage I was in.... Then there was a second shock and the carriage lifted up, then a third and a fourth and the carriage went over on its side," passenger Marc Cheutin told the AFP news agency. | |
| Other media reports spoke of passengers being electrocuted and crushed. | Other media reports spoke of passengers being electrocuted and crushed. |
| "I saw many wounded women children trapped inside," Vianey Kalisa, who was waiting for his train from Bretigny to Paris, told AFP. | |
| "People were screaming. A man had blood on his face. These are images of war," he said. | |
| Ophelie, who also witnessed the crash, told the I-Tele news channel everyone was shocked and some people on the platforms were among the injured. | |
| French transport routes were particularly busy at the time of the crash due to the run-up to a holiday weekend marking Sunday's Bastille Day. | French transport routes were particularly busy at the time of the crash due to the run-up to a holiday weekend marking Sunday's Bastille Day. |
| "There were plenty of people on the platforms because of it being a holiday weekend," said Jean Paul Huchon, Socialist president in the IIe de France area. | "There were plenty of people on the platforms because of it being a holiday weekend," said Jean Paul Huchon, Socialist president in the IIe de France area. |
| SNCF said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the derailment. | SNCF said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the derailment. |
| "We can't confirm anything without proof. I'll speak when it's clear. I will be completely transparent but right now everything must be done to help the victims," Mr Pepy told reporters in Bretigny. | "We can't confirm anything without proof. I'll speak when it's clear. I will be completely transparent but right now everything must be done to help the victims," Mr Pepy told reporters in Bretigny. |
| Judicial and transport ministry inquires have also been launched. | Judicial and transport ministry inquires have also been launched. |
| The train had left Paris-Austerlitz station at 16 :53 local time and was due to arrive at Limoges-Benedictins at 20:05, the company said in a statement. | The train had left Paris-Austerlitz station at 16 :53 local time and was due to arrive at Limoges-Benedictins at 20:05, the company said in a statement. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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