Paris suburban train overturns in landslide

Published June 13, 2018
THE derailed train is seen between Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse and Courcelles Sur Yvette, France, on Tuesday.—Reuters
THE derailed train is seen between Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse and Courcelles Sur Yvette, France, on Tuesday.—Reuters

PARIS: A suburban train overturned outside Paris on Tuesday after days of downpours caused an embankment to collapse, slightly injuring seven people including a pregnant woman.

The accident happened just before 5am as the RER commuter train was heading for Paris between Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse and Courcelle-sur-Yvette southwest of the French capital.

A spokesman for Paris transport operator RATP said heavy rains caused the collapse of an embankment which led three carriages to derail and tip over. The line has been closed.

“Fortunately, there are only seven slightly injured,” Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne told Franceinfo radio.

France has been battered by strong rains and winds for several weeks, with around half of the country under an orange storm warning until at least Wednesday morning.

“Wednesday should mark the end of hostilities to some extent,” national forecaster Meteo France joked.

Last week four people were killed in flooding that has caused widespread damage.

Weather monitors counted 180,000 lightning strikes in France last month — triple the 60,000 average.

The flood warnings mostly affect the northern half of the country, and several major roads in the Paris region were closed due to flooding on Tuesday.

The Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes in southwest France has warned it is near the point of flooding due to the swelling of the neighbouring Gave du Pau river.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...