Strasbourg tram collision sees dozens injured

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 many people inside. Another video shows smoke rising and chaos as an alarm goes off.

Local media reported that the accident occurred after one of the trams changed tracks and collided with a stationary tram. Some reports say that one tram was backing up at the time.

A spokesman for the province said an investigation into the cause of the accident has been opened and no deaths have been reported.

Strasbourg Mayor Jeanne Barseghian told reporters at the scene that there had been an accident involving a tram, but the cause was unknown.

According to BFM TV, Barseghian asked the public to wait for the results of the investigation.

An eyewitness named Johan told the AFP news agency that he saw one of the trams speeding back, adding: “We heard a big bang, a big explosion.”

An eyewitness told BFM TV that the doors of the tram flew off.

The outlet said that heavy security was set up in front of the station.

The Fire and Rescue Service of the Bas-Rhin region which is listed on the X to encourage people to avoid the area to allow emergency services to go to the area.

Project manager Rene Cellier said the non-fatal injuries reported were “very serious”, and included head injuries, broken clavicles, and broken knees.

“There are still about 100 people who are not seriously injured but are seeing doctors,” Cellier said.

He added that around 50 vehicles and 130 firefighters were sent to the scene and that the situation “could have been very difficult”.

Emmanuel Auneau, head of CTS – which is responsible for public transport in Strasbourg – said the two tram drivers “were not physically injured, but they are very shocked”.