Dozens hurt after tram collision in France's Strasbourg

A collision between two trams in a tunnel near the main train station in Strasbourg, France on Saturday resulted in at least 20 injuries, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred around 4pm in one of the busiest transport hubs in France, with one of the trams reportedly derailing after the crash.

The cause of the collision is under investigation, and authorities have opened an inquiry. Firefighters later updated the injury toll to approximately 50 people, with a variety of trauma injuries reported, including fractures and sprains.

Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, estimated that around 36 people were injured, but local authorities did not rule out the possibility of more injuries. A video shared by a witness on social media depicted a chaotic scene, showing significant damage to both trams, with debris scattered across the tunnel.

Emergency services, including paramedics and firefighters, worked quickly to secure the scene and transport injured passengers. Some victims were treated on-site for minor injuries, while others were rushed to hospitals in nearby ambulances.

Strasbourg’s Mayor Jeanne Barseghian described the collision as “brutal” but confirmed that no fatalities or critical injuries had been reported. "There were a number of people on the trams," Barseghian said, adding that many were in shock from the impact.

Transport officials indicated that the crash occurred in a high-density area, making it one of the worst possible locations for such an accident. “It’s a rare incident,” said Julien Joly, a transport expert. He reassured commuters that trams remain one of the safest modes of urban transport.

A witness, Johan, who declined to provide his last name, said he heard a “big bang” before seeing one tram reversing at full speed. He speculated that the tram had a brake failure.

Strasbourg, located in the historic Alsace region, was the first major French city to reintroduce trams in 1994 after they were discontinued in 1960. This marks one of the few major accidents on the city's tram network, which has operated safely for decades.