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French train collision 'kills 12' French rescuers tackle wreckage
(about 2 hours later)
Twelve people have been killed and about 20 injured in a head-on train collision in north-eastern France, the state-owned rail firm SNCF has said. At least five people have been killed in a head-on train collision in north-eastern France, while others are still trapped in the wreckage.
A passenger train collided with a goods train in Zoufftgen, near the Luxembourg border, at about 1145 (0945 GMT).A passenger train collided with a goods train in Zoufftgen, near the Luxembourg border, at about 1145 (0945 GMT).
An SNCF spokesman said the two trains had been sent onto the same section of track after engineering works had restricted traffic to a single track. It was initially reported that as many as 12 people may have died, but the French transport minister said later that five were confirmed dead.
"It is an apocalyptic vision," senior regional official Bernard Mertz said. A senior regional official described the scene as "an apocalyptic vision".
"There's a mess of steel and tangled metal, with wagons up-ended and pointing into the sky," he said. "There's a mess of steel and tangled metal, with wagons up-ended and pointing into the sky," said Bernard Mertz.
SNCF said two train drivers had died, as well as nine passengers and a person working on the track. The two trains had been sent onto the same section of the line after engineering works had restricted traffic to a single track, said a spokesman for the railway operator SNCF.
However, local government officials in the Lorraine region said the death toll was lower. SNCF initially said two train drivers had died, as well as nine passengers and a person working on the track.
They said five people had been killed, and five hurt, in the crash. But later reports said five were dead, five injured and 10 others were being treated for shock.
But the local Moselle administration said several people were trapped inside the wreckage, "which means the toll could evolve".
TrappedTrapped
The passenger train left Luxembourg at 1130 and was due to arrive in the city of Nancy at 1255.The passenger train left Luxembourg at 1130 and was due to arrive in the city of Nancy at 1255.
It collided with the freight train, which was heading north to Luxembourg.It collided with the freight train, which was heading north to Luxembourg.
SNCF told reporters its train had received a green signal to switch onto the first track, as the second one was closed for maintenance work.SNCF told reporters its train had received a green signal to switch onto the first track, as the second one was closed for maintenance work.
A spokesman said: "For reasons that are not clear, these two trains came together head-to-head."A spokesman said: "For reasons that are not clear, these two trains came together head-to-head."
The number of passengers on board the double-decker regional express is not known.The number of passengers on board the double-decker regional express is not known.
More than 100 rescue workers were at the crash site to set up a mobile hospital and treat victims, a local fire chief, Samuel Gesret, told French television.More than 100 rescue workers were at the crash site to set up a mobile hospital and treat victims, a local fire chief, Samuel Gesret, told French television.
"We are faced with an important and dramatic situation," Eric Soupra, a local civil security official, told French radio."We are faced with an important and dramatic situation," Eric Soupra, a local civil security official, told French radio.
Some of the wounded were trapped in the wreckage and would have to be cut out, he said.Some of the wounded were trapped in the wreckage and would have to be cut out, he said.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Transport Minister Dominique Perben are travelling to the scene, as well as investigators who will be looking into the cause of the crash. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Transport Minister Dominique Perben went to the scene, as well as investigators who will be looking into the cause of the crash.
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