At least 44 people were injured after a passenger train derailed in northern France Friday evening, triggering a massive emergency response and leaving one teenager in critical condition.
The regional passenger train was traveling between Rouen and Caen in Normandy when it came off the tracks near the town of Cléon, just south of Rouen, shortly before 8 p.m. local time on Sept. 11.
About 180 passengers were on board at the time, according to French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.
Officials said at least 44 people were injured, including an 18-year-old woman who was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
The remaining injured passengers were reported to have suffered mostly minor injuries.
The derailment prompted local authorities to activate a mass-casualty emergency plan as first responders rushed to the scene.
Around 140 firefighters were deployed along with police, ambulances and medical crews to help evacuate passengers and treat the injured.
Photos from the scene showed passengers making their way away from the damaged train while emergency crews surrounded the wreckage.
French media reported that several train cars came off the tracks, with some reports indicating that three cars overturned.
The exact cause of the derailment has not yet been determined.
Authorities began investigating what may have caused the train to leave the tracks, while officials urged the public to stay away from the area as emergency operations continued.
No deaths had been reported as of Friday night.
France’s state-owned railway operator, SNCF, said the crash caused significant disruptions throughout the region.
Train service between Rouen and Caen was interrupted, and other routes in the area were also affected.
Replacement buses were expected to be provided for stranded passengers.
Power to parts of the rail line was also shut off while crews worked around the crash site.
Tabarot said he was closely monitoring the situation with local officials and railway authorities as rescue efforts continued.
The derailment caused major travel problems across Normandy and left investigators working to determine exactly what went wrong.
