French Alps: Rock derails Nice to Digne-les-Bains train

Two people were killed when a falling boulder derailed a tourist train in the southern French Alps, local officials and firefighters say.

At least nine people were injured.

The train was travelling from Nice to the town of Digne-les-Bains on a line which crosses gorges and viaducts at up to 1,000m (3,200ft) above sea level.

Images from the scene show the two-carriage train dangling from the tracks, the side of one carriage caved in by the rock.

One of the injured is said to be in a critical condition, while the others, including the driver, are reported to have sustained lighter injuries.

There were a total of 34 people on board at the time of the accident, AFP news agency reports.

The agency adds that a total of 110 firefighters and 32 vehicles were deployed from around the region, as well as two helicopters.

They are said to have encountered difficulties in reaching the accident because of heavy snow and the isolated location.

"A rockfall occurred when the train was passing and caused the derailment," Jean-Yves Petit, vice president of the regional authority in charge of transport, told Reuters news agency.

Local mayor Jean Ballester told BFM television that the boulder fell from the mountain "with an extraordinary force''.

 

Source

BBC