Passenger train derails in France leaving at least 44 injured

At least 44 people have been injured, including one seriously, after a passenger train derailed in northern France, local officials have said.

Uma mulher de 18 anos foi transportada de helicóptero em estado crítico para o hospital.

O ministro dos Transportes, Philippe Tabarot, disse que 180 passageiros estavam a bordo do trem que operava entre Rouen e Caen, na Normandia.

He added that 140 firefighters and other emergency teams were being deployed to the scene of the crash on Friday evening near the commune of Cléon, just south of Rouen.

The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.

As autoridades locais ativaram um plano de resposta a vítimas em massa após o acidente pouco antes das 20:00, horário local (18:00 GMT).

Photographs later emerged showing passengers leaving the crashed train, with French media reporting that three carriages overturned.

France's state-owned railway operator SNCF reported "significant disruptions" on its routes in the area. It said replacement buses would be provided.

As autoridades aconselharam o público a evitar a área.

Em números

• Trem de passageiros descarrila na França, deixando pelo menos 44 feridos