STRASBOURG: Two trams collided in a tunnel in a uncommon accident within the japanese French metropolis of Strasbourg on Saturday (Jan 11), injuring dozens of individuals, authorities mentioned.
The collision occurred close to Strasbourg’s important prepare station, one of many busiest in France exterior Paris.
Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot mentioned “in all probability round 36” individuals have been injured within the accident, whereas firefighters put that determine at round 50.
A video posted by a witness on social media confirmed a chaotic scene with the 2 trams considerably broken in a tunnel close to the station.
One of many trams appeared to have derailed because of the influence, whose trigger has but to be established.
“The general public prosecutor’s workplace opened an investigation,” the prefecture mentioned.
A big safety perimeter was arrange in entrance of the station, the place ambulances took up place, based on an AFP journalist on the scene.
Paramedics and firefighters loaded injured individuals secured on stretchers into ambulances. Different victims acquired first assist underneath the station’s glass roof.
Strasbourg was the primary main French metropolis to re-introduce trams in 1994, after the service closed in 1960.
Because the return of the autos, there have been no main accidents.
– ‘Brutal collision’ –
Strasbourg’s mayor Jeanne Barseghian and different officers rushed to the station.
The accident occurred shortly earlier than 4pm native time.
“What we all know at this stage is that there was a brutal collision between two trams, on the platform, underneath the station,” mentioned Barseghian.
“There have been various individuals on the trams,” she mentioned, including that there have been no fatalities or individuals in “absolute urgency”.
A number of the injured have been in a state of shock because of the “head-on” influence which was “comparatively violent”, the mayor added, expressing her assist.
Patrick Maciejewski, chairman of the board of administrators of the Strasbourg transport firm (CTS), mentioned that there had been demonstrations in central Strasbourg, which had disrupted tram site visitors.
“Various trams needed to be reorganised and placed on standby. There was a site visitors jam,” he mentioned.
Rene Cellier, director of the Bas-Rhin hearth and rescue service, mentioned round 50 individuals had suffered non-fatal accidents akin to scalp wounds, clavicle fractures, and knee sprains.
“Principally trauma,” mentioned Cellier.
“There are additionally round 100 individuals who don’t have any specific accidents however are being seen by the medical doctors,” he added.
“BIG BANG”
Johan, a witness who declined to provide his final identify, mentioned that one of many trams reversed at full velocity.
“There was an issue with the brakes,” he instructed AFP. “We heard a huge impact, an enormous bang.”
The accident occurred in “the worst place on the community, in a tunnel and in a really dense space”, given its location in entrance of Strasbourg station, mentioned Julien Joly, a transport and mobility professional at Wavestone consulting agency.
However such a collision was “uncommon”, Joly mentioned, including that commuters might be reassured that trams “stay a protected mode of transport” as they largely journey at 30kmh when within the metropolis centre.
Strasbourg noticed an analogous incident in 1998 when one tram collided with one other in the identical tunnel, wounding 17 individuals.
Situated within the historic area of Alsace, the town is the official seat of the European Parliament.
