Paris – At least two people are in a serious condition with another 60 injured after a high-speed train collided with a tree on the tracks in southern France.
The TER, going at speeds of 90 miles per hour, hit a tree that had fallen on the tracks during heavy thunderstorms in Saint-Aunès, east of Montpellier.
A local emergency services spokesman said: “There was a storm with masses of hail, rain and high winds.
“A large tree was dislodged and then collapsed in the path of an oncoming train, causing a great deal of damage.”
About 200 people had been on the train at the time of the incident with 70 fire fighters and 40 emergency vehicles heading to the scene.
