Nineteen injured after train and coach collide in northern France - Reuters

A freight train and a passenger coach collided near the Channel Tunnel in northern France on Thursday evening. The accident occurred in the vicinity of the tunnel’s French entrance, prompting an immediate response from emergency services.

The collision involved a freight train travelling on the railway line that serves the tunnel and a coach that was on a nearby road. Local authorities identified the train as a freight service, but details about the coach’s route or operator were not disclosed.

Nineteen people were reported injured as a result of the impact. Injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, with medical personnel attending to both serious and minor injuries. The extent of the injuries was described as varying, but no fatalities were reported.

The prefect’s office confirmed the incident and said that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collision. Police and railway safety officials are conducting a joint inquiry, and the site has been secured while forensic examinations are carried out.

Rail traffic through the Channel Tunnel was temporarily suspended following the crash, and road traffic in the immediate area experienced disruptions. Authorities have not announced when normal train and road operations are expected to resume.