At least 30 people were injured after two trams collided at Strasbourg's central station on Saturday, authorities said.
Videos and photos posted on social media showed two trams with dozens of people inside. One video shows billowing smoke and chaotic scenes as an alarm sounds.
Local media reported that the accident occurred after one of the trams changed tracks and collided with a stopped tram. According to other reports, one tram was reversing at the time.
A prefectural spokesman said an investigation into the cause of the incident had begun and no deaths had been confirmed.
Strasbourg Mayor Jeanne Barseghian told reporters at the scene that there had been a collision with a tram, but the cause was unknown.
According to BFM TV, Barseghyan urged people to wait for the results of the investigation.
An eyewitness named Johan told AFP he saw one of the trams reversing at high speed, adding: “We heard a loud bang, a big bang.”
Another eyewitness told BFM TV that the tram's doors were blown off upon impact.
The publication reported that a large security perimeter was built in front of the station.
The Fire and Rescue Service of the Lower Rhine region posted on X, urging people to avoid the area to allow emergency services to access the area.
Service director Rene Cellier said some of the non-fatal injuries reported were “mostly trauma” but also included scalp wounds, collarbone fractures and knee sprains.
“There are also about 100 people who do not have any particular injuries, but have been examined by the doctors,” Selye said.
He added that around 50 vehicles and 130 firefighters had been sent to the scene and that the situation “could be much more serious”.
Emmanuel Aunot, director of CTS – which is responsible for managing public transport in Strasbourg – said the two tram drivers “were not physically injured, but they were very shocked”.