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At least 44 people injured after train derails in northern France

The train left the tracks between Rouen ​and Caen in northern ​France, the transport minister ​Philippe ⁠Tabarot ⁠said.

The train was carrying 180 ⁠passengers and ​went off ​the ​rails near to the ⁠town ⁠of Cleon ​in Normandy, ​added Tabarot in a ‌post on X on Friday ‌evening.

According to local media, an 18-year-old woman is in critical condition while 43 passengers reportedly sustained minor injuries.

She was airlifted by helicopter to Rouen University Hospital, while uninjured passengers were taken to Cleon Town Hall.

One carriage overturned and four carriages derailed around 7.30pm local time, French TV station BFMTV reported.

Minister Tabarot added 140 firefighters had been deployed to the scene to provide assistance.

The ⁠train derailed after hitting an unidentified object, a spokesperson for the ‌French police said.

The French railway operator, SNCF, said that an investigation to identify the ‌cause of the accident was underway.

The ⁠local authority, the prefecture ⁠of Seine-Maritime, advised the ​public to avoid ​the area.

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There are 140 firefighters at ​the scene to help the injured and ​the passengers, the transport minister added.

A woman quoted by a local media outlet reported broken windows and people being injured by shards of glass and objects on board.

The public prosecutor’s office is reported to have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

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