At least 30 people were injured when two trams collided at Strasbourg's central station on Saturday, authorities said.
Videos and photos posted on social media showed dozens of people inside the two trams. A video shows smoke billowing and chaotic scenes as an alarm goes off
Local media reported that the accident occurred after a tram changed track and collided with a stationary tram. Other reports said a tram was in reverse at the time.
A prefecture spokesman said the cause of the crash was under investigation and no fatalities had been confirmed.
Strasbourg Mayor Jean Barseghian told reporters at the scene that there had been a collision with a tram, but the cause was not known.
According to BFM TV, Barseghian urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation.
A witness named Johan told the AFP news agency that he saw a tram overturn at speed, adding: “We heard a big impact, a big bang.”
Another witness told BFM TV that the door of the tram flew off on impact.
The outlet reported that a large security perimeter was set up in front of the station.
The fire and rescue service of the Bas-Rhine region posted on X asking people to avoid the area to allow emergency services access to the area.
Rene Cellier, director of the service, said the few non-fatal injuries reported were “mostly trauma”, but included scalp lacerations, clavicle fractures and knee sprains.
“There are also about 100 people who don't have any particular injuries but are being seen by doctors,” Sellier said.
He added that around 50 vehicles and 130 firefighters had been sent to the scene and that the situation “could have been more serious”.
The two tram drivers were “not physically injured, but very traumatised”, said Emmanuel Aunau, director of the CTS responsible for managing public transport in Strasbourg.