This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/14/school-bus-and-train-in-serious-accident-in-southern-france

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Teenagers killed as train and school bus collide in southern France Children killed as train and school bus collide in southern France
(35 minutes later)
A train has ploughed into a school bus at a crossing in south-west France, killing at least four teenagers and injuring almost 20 others. A train has ploughed into a school bus at a crossing in south-west France, killing at least four children and injuring almost 20 others, seven critically.
In what the authorities described as a “serious rail accident” on Thursday, initial reports suggested the bus was sliced in half. The youngest victim was reported to be eight years old.
The victims are said to be aged between 13 and 17 and were all travelling on the bus. Helicopters took the injured to hospital. In what the authorities described as a “serious rail accident” on Thursday, initial reports suggested the bus was sliced in half. Helicopters took the injured to hospital.
The transport minister, Elisabeth Borne, described the crash as a “terrible accident” and said on Twitter that she was heading immediately to the scene. The transport minister, Élisabeth Borne, described the crash as a “terrible accident” and said on Twitter that she was heading immediately to the scene.
Très vive émotion suite au terrible accident survenu à #Millas dans les Pyrénées-Orientales. Les secours et les services de l’Etat sont pleinement mobilisés. Je me rends sur place immédiatement.Très vive émotion suite au terrible accident survenu à #Millas dans les Pyrénées-Orientales. Les secours et les services de l’Etat sont pleinement mobilisés. Je me rends sur place immédiatement.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, also tweeted his condolences.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, also tweeted his condolences.
“My thoughts go out to the victims of this terrible accident involving a school bus and their families. The state is doing everything in its power to support the rescue operation.”“My thoughts go out to the victims of this terrible accident involving a school bus and their families. The state is doing everything in its power to support the rescue operation.”
Around 70 firefighters and four helicopters as well as emergency medics have been despatched to the scene of the accident. The accident happened on a two-lane country road as the bus crossed a single-track railway line secured by a simple striped barrier and warning lights in each direction.
Carole Delga, president of the Occitaine regional authority confirmed the vehicle involved as a school bus taking children home. She said there were around a dozen injured, some “in a critical state”. Pictures from the scene show the rear of the bus completely ripped off.
A spokeswoman for France’s national rail company, SNCF, said the train was running at 80km/h (50mph) at the time of the accident and 25 people were on board. Three of those were slightly injured.
Around 70 firefighters and four helicopters as well as emergency medics have been dispatched to the scene.
Carole Delga, president of the Occitaine regional authority, confirmed that the vehicle involved was a school bus taking children home.
The collision happened at around 4.30pm on Thursday near the city of Perpignan. Witnesses travelling on the train told the local newspaper L’Indépendant they had felt a “very violent impact”.The collision happened at around 4.30pm on Thursday near the city of Perpignan. Witnesses travelling on the train told the local newspaper L’Indépendant they had felt a “very violent impact”.
“We thought the train was going to come off the rails and turn over,” one passenger named Barbara told the newspaper.“We thought the train was going to come off the rails and turn over,” one passenger named Barbara told the newspaper.
The prime minister, Édouard Philippe, and education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, were also on their way to the scene.The prime minister, Édouard Philippe, and education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, were also on their way to the scene.
France’s national rail company, SNCF, sent a “sincere message of support” to the families of those involved. SNCF sent a “sincere message of support” to the families of those involved.
The bus was 12 miles (20km) west of Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales heading towards the village of Villefranche-de-Conflent when it was hit. The pupils were from the Christian Bourquin secondary school.The bus was 12 miles (20km) west of Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales heading towards the village of Villefranche-de-Conflent when it was hit. The pupils were from the Christian Bourquin secondary school.
A statement from the local administrative office said the accident had happened at a railway crossing at Millas.A statement from the local administrative office said the accident had happened at a railway crossing at Millas.
“Given the severity of the accident, the Pyrénées-Orientales prefect has decided to activate the departmental operational centre so the actions of different (emergency) services can be coordinated. The emergency services and the gendarmerie are at the scene,” the statement said.“Given the severity of the accident, the Pyrénées-Orientales prefect has decided to activate the departmental operational centre so the actions of different (emergency) services can be coordinated. The emergency services and the gendarmerie are at the scene,” the statement said.
It said further information would be released when available.It said further information would be released when available.