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Deadly French train crash at Bretigny-sur-Orge Deadly French train crash at Bretigny-sur-Orge
(35 minutes 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. Six people have been killed and more than 20 injured in a train crash at Bretigny-sur-Orge, south of the French capital Paris, officials have 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 (15:14 GMT).
Passengers were said to be trapped inside the train. Passengers were left trapped inside carriages.
Guillaume Pepy, head of the French rail company SNCF, described the accident as a "catastrophe". French President Francois Hollande visited the scene and expressed his shock at the accident.
The company said 385 passengers were on board when it crashed. Six people died and 22 others were seriously injured, Mr Hollande told reporters. All those with serious injuries were now in hospital, he added.
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. He spoke of his "solidarity" with the families of those caught up in the accident, saying that the station would be closed for three days while investigations were carried out to determine what led to the derailment.
French President Francois Hollande has arrived at the crash site and is meeting emergency officials. The French rail company SNCF said 385 passengers were on board when it crashed. The station platforms were crowded at the start of a holiday weekend.
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.
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.
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."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."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."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. Bretigny mayor and local MP Michel Pouzol said four of the carriages were lying wrecked on the station platform.
He said the emergency services responded to a "red alert", put into action when many casualties are expected.
Guillaume Pepy, president of SNCF, described the accident as a "catastrophe" and explained that the train's third and fourth carriages derailed first and the other coaches followed.
Ophelie, who 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. The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that in May SNCF warned passengers that points work was being carried out in the area, where intercity and commuter lines dovetail.
It is not clear if the earlier points problems are connected with Friday's crash, he says.
"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 inquiries as well as an SNCF investigation have 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.
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