Two dead and seven injured as people are trapped in tourist train left dangling off cliff in French Alps after being hit by boulder the size of a car *Train hit by boulder on line between Nice and town of Digne-les-Bains *One victim was reportedly catapulted out of carriage upon impact *Reports of passengers including women and children left trapped inside *One carriage left dangling over cliff as the other teeters on the edge *One of the victims has been identified as a Russian woman Two people died and one was left fighting for his life today when a massive boulder the size of a car crashed into their tourist train in the south of France. The horrific accident happened as the so-called Train of the Pines ran from Nice to the Alpine resort of Digne-les-Bain on Saturday morning. Around 30 people were on board when a landslide dislodged the huge rock, causing it to roll down on to the train, denting one of the carriages and leaving hanging over the snow-capped mountain side. Horror crash: Two people were killed and several injured after a tourist train was hit by a boulder in the French Alps+9 Horror crash: Two people were killed and several injured after a tourist train was hit by a boulder in the French Alps The train is pictured dangling from a snowy mountainside following the freak accident+9 The train is pictured dangling from a snowy mountainside following the freak accident Mangled: The accident happened as the so-called Train of the Pines ran from Nice to the Alpine resort of Digne-les-Bain+9 Mangled: The accident happened as the so-called Train of the Pines ran from Nice to the Alpine resort of Digne-les-Bain The boulder was the size of a car - it has caused enormous damage, said Jean Ballester, mayor of nearby Annot. More... This is how Brazil deals with Tube protests: Rioters take over stations and clash with police over ten cent fare rise Train carrying gas containers explodes as it travels through Russia, sparking terror attack fears as Sochi Olympics opens He said that many of those on board were left trapped in the wreckage, while one man was seen being catapulted out of the mangled metal. A 49-year-old Russian woman died, along with an 82-year-old Frenchman, while another victim was fighting for his life in hospital. The authorities have not yet named any of the victims. A French policeman surveys the scene. Around 30 people were on board when a landslide dislodged the huge rock+9 A French policeman surveys the scene. Around 30 people were on board when a landslide dislodged the huge rock The boulder battered the side of one of the carriages sending it crashing down the side of the slope+9 The boulder battered the side of one of the carriages sending it crashing down the side of the slope The front of the train can be seen on the wooded hillside. Many of those on board were left trapped in the wreckage+9 The front of the train can be seen on the wooded hillside. Many of those on board were left trapped in the wreckage At least two dead as boulder smashes train in the Alps Firefighters work at the site of a train accident in Saint Benoit, Southern France+9 Emergency workers inspect the site of a train accident in Saint Benoit, Southern France+9 Operation: Emergency workers are seen at the site of the crash near Saint Benoit, Southern France Shocking pictures posted on social media sites by Nice Matin newspaper show the two carriage train hanging from the snowy mountainside. One of the carriages is still on the track, the second is still on the slope, said eye witness Quentin Bonnard. There are firefighters everywhere. It is very dramatic. The accident happened between Annot and St Benedit in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of southern France - one which is full of British holidaymakers during the ski season. A red alert emergency procedure was triggered by the local prefecture, with firefighters, ambulances and police all rushed to the scene. Two helicopters are being used to try and get to the site of the accident, and to evacuate the injured. The train, which was travelling from Nice, is popular with British holidaymakers+9 The train, which was travelling from Nice, is popular with British holidaymakers French Interior Minister said treacherous weather including heavy snowfall was making the emergency operation difficult. The Nice to Digne line is 93 miles long, and has been servicing tourists to France since 1891 as one of the famous Trains de Pignes. The train crosses some of the most beautiful countryside in Europe, including mountain gorges and viaducts. The line rises to a height over up to 1000 meters.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 21:22:17 +0000
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