On Saturday, January 11th, a collision between two tramways occurred in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, resulting in dozens of injuries, but fortunately, none of them were serious.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the accident took place on Saturday afternoon local time in a tunnel near the station leading to the central train station of Strasbourg.
Rene Cellier, the director of the Bas-Rhin Fire and Rescue Department, mentioned that while around 100 people were not injured, they underwent assessments for shock or stress. Emergency services deployed 130 firefighters, 50 rescue vehicles, and established extensive safety perimeters.
“Approximately 50 people are in relatively urgent condition, with injuries including scalp wounds, collarbone fractures, and twisted knees. However, there are no critically injured individuals,” said Cellier.
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear, with authorities launching an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident.
Strasbourg Mayor Jeanne Barseghian rushed to the scene, describing the incident as a “horrible collision” and expressing gratitude to the emergency responders. She urged the public not to hinder the rescue operations.
Images shared on social media showed the severe damage to the two collided tramways, with one of them derailed in the tunnel.
Based on reports from French media, Strasbourg was the first major city in France to resume tram services in 1994, and until now, no serious tram accidents have occurred.
As of Saturday evening, the cleanup efforts were still ongoing, and authorities advised residents to avoid the area surrounding the train station.