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France Millas train crash: Children killed as bus cut in two France Millas train crash: Children killed as bus cut in two
(about 2 hours later)
A train and a school bus have collided near Perpignan in southern France, killing at least four children, the interior ministry says. A train and a school bus have collided near Perpignan in southern France, leaving at least four children dead and many other people injured.
Another 20 people were hurt, many of them seriously, in the accident on a railway crossing between Millas and Saint-Féliu-d'Amont. Twenty people were injured and 11 of them were in a critical condition, after the crash on a level crossing between Millas and Saint-Féliu-d'Amont.
The students on the bus are reported to be between the ages of 13 and 17. The bus had picked up pupils, aged between 13 and 17, from a nearby secondary school before it was hit.
Pictures from the scene showed the school bus sheared in two by the force of the crash. Pictures from the scene showed the bus split in two by the force of the crash.
Around 70 emergency workers and four helicopters were deployed as part of the rescue effort. Train operator SNCF said witnesses had reported seeing the barriers at the level crossing down at the time of the collision, although that was not confirmed.
The crash happened on a section of line between Perpignan and Villefranche-de-Conflent, the local news website l'Indépendant reports. The bus, which had left the Christian Bourquin College in Millas, was on the crossing when it was hit by the train, which was travelling from Perpignan at around 80km/h (50mph). Visibility was described as good.
A witness who was on the train, named as Barbara, said "it was a very violent crash - it seemed as if the train would derail". A witness who was on the train told local news website l'Indépendant that "it was a very violent crash - it seemed as if the train would derail". Some 30 people were on the regional train at the time.
Casualties were being taken to hospital in Perpignan. Rail travel is severely disrupted. Investigators are waiting to interview the woman driver of the bus who was slightly injured in the crash. Both drivers escaped serious injury.
Officials say the bus was taking people home from a secondary school when it collided with the train, which was travelling at 80km/h (50mph). Carole Delga, president of the Occitanie regional council, said the level crossing appeared to be in very good condition and had been upgraded recently. "The level crossing was very visible", she said. SNCF said it involved an automatic barrier with standard signals and was not considered particularly dangerous.
Weather conditions were reported to be good. But the grandmother of an injured 11-year-old girl who had been on the bus told a very different story. The girl had told her that the barrier had not come down but had remained raised. "The red lights that normally flash did not come on," she said. "The (bus) driver went through and stopped half way, and that's where the train crashed into it."
Carole Delga, president of the Occitanie regional council, said the level crossing appeared to be in very good condition and had been upgraded recently. "The level crossing was very visible", she said.
Rail operator SNCF has modernised level crossings across France in recent years, following numerous accidents, the BBC's Chris Bockman reports from Toulouse.Rail operator SNCF has modernised level crossings across France in recent years, following numerous accidents, the BBC's Chris Bockman reports from Toulouse.
Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne called the crash a "terrible accident" and said on Twitter that she was going to the scene, about 850km (530 miles) south of Paris. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who visited the scene, said the task of identifying the victims was proving extremely difficult.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has arrived at the site and is speaking with families. "The priority at this stage is to give precise information to the families who are living through a period of anguish that we must make as short as possible", he said.
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer will visit a counselling centre that has been set up at the Christian Bourquin College in Millas on Friday. Around 70 emergency workers and four helicopters were deployed as part of the rescue effort.
A statement from his office said he would visit "to support students, families, teachers and the entire educational community". Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne called the crash a "terrible accident" and Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer was due to visit a counselling centre set up at the Christian Bourquin College on Friday.
In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron said: "All my thoughts for the victims of this terrible accident involving a school bus, as well as their families. The state is fully mobilised to help them." A statement from the education minister's office said he would visit "to support students, families, teachers and the entire educational community".
In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron offered his condolences: "All my thoughts for the victims of this terrible accident involving a school bus, as well as their families. The state is fully mobilised to help them."
Have you been affected by this event? If it is safe for you to do so, get in touch at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by this event? If it is safe for you to do so, get in touch at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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