Bus crashes into train on French side of Channel Tunnel with 19 casualties

Bus crashes into train on French side of Channel Tunnel with 19 casualties Nineteen people have been injured after a train and bus collided on a loading platform near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in Pas-de-Calais, France A bus has crashed into a freight train on the French side of the Channel Tunnel. French authorities said 19 people were injured in the crash, which took place at the Eurotunnel site in Pas-de-Calais. The coach driver is among those injured. No deaths have been reported and no lives are in danger, officials said. The French emergency medical service (SAMU), a mobile intensive care unit (SMUR) helicopter, and the fire and rescue service (SDIS) are at the scene. The last two Eurostar trains running between Paris and London today were cancelled because of engineering works, not the collision, according to Eurostar. Services are expected to run as normal tomorrow. Key Events Here's what we know so far - Two people were airlifted to hospital following a collision between a minibus and a freight train at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France - Nineteen people, including the minibus driver, were injured, but none are in a life-threatening condition - The minibus collided with the freight train shortly before 7.30pm local time at Eurotunnel’s Coquelles site, Calais sub-prefect Agathe Cury said - She said the minibus was carrying coach drivers, all of whom are understood to be men of "different nationalities" - Eurostar services were not affected by the incident and are expected to run as scheduled - An investigation has been launched into the cause of the collision, Cury said BBC presenter says incident appeared to be confined to one platform BBC Radio 4 presenter Evan Davis was travelling from Folkestone to Calais through the Channel Tunnel when the incident happened. He told the BBC he saw blue-light emergency vehicles "concentrated on one of the platforms" as he arrived in France. Passenger services were temporarily suspended Agathe Cury, the sub-prefect of Calais, said passenger services were temporarily suspended as emergency crews responded to the incident, but "everything is back to normal now". Freight and Eurostar services continued to operate as normal. The minibus driver was a Eurotunnel employee, she said, adding that the injured people are all understood to be men of "different nationalities". 'Minibus struck shuttle' for reasons not yet known, says Calais sub-prefect More from the sub-prefect of Calais, Agathe Cury. She told reporters that "for reasons that remain unknown, the minibus struck the shuttle as it was setting off". "A judicial investigation has been opened," Cury said. "This is the first time an accident of this kind has occurred." Critically injured number revised from five to two We can bring you information from tonight's press briefing. Agathe Cury, the sub-prefect of Calais, said a minibus carrying coach drivers collided with a freight shuttle at 7.27pm local time at Eurotunnel's Coquelles site. Nineteen people were injured - the minibus driver and 18 passengers. Two were airlifted to Lille University Hospital for specialist treatment. The other 17 - whose injuries were deemed less serious - were taken to nearby hospitals in Helfaut, Calais, Boulogne, Montreuil-sur-Mer and Dunkirk. "No lives are in danger," Cury said. The alarm was raised at 7.36pm, nine minutes after the collision, she added. The emergency response involved 55 firefighters, 25 emergency medical teams, around 20 border police officers and around 100 Eurotunnel staff. Pictured: Large emergency presence at scene Images from the scene show a large emergency services presence and a bus that appears to have sustained significant damage to its front and side. Eurostar services not impacted Eurostar has said its services will run as scheduled. It said in a status update: "An incident occurred several kilometres away from the Channel Tunnel tonight, not involving Eurostar. "This incident does not impact Eurostar trains running from and to London. All of Eurostar trains will run as expected." The last two trains running between Paris and London today were cancelled due to engineering works - not the incident, according to Eurostar. Press briefing to take place in around five minutes A bus collided with a train near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France this evening, injuring the driver and 18 passengers. A press briefing is expected at 10.15pm local time (9.15pm BST), when further details are likely to be provided. A photograph published by local news outlet La Voix du Nord showed a badly damaged minibus on the platform, with police officers and staff in high-visibility jackets at the scene. Several injured people, whose faces have been pixelated in the image, also appear to be receiving treatment on the platform. 'No deaths reported' - French authorities issue statement A statement from the Pas-de-Calais prefect said: "An accident involving a minibus transporting heavy goods vehicle drivers who were about to board a LeShuttle shuttle occurred this evening, at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel site. "Significant resources were immediately mobilised by Eurotunnel, then under the authority of the prefect of Pas-de-Calais. "The initial report indicates 19 people involved, including the driver. "No deaths are to be reported at this stage and no lives are in danger." Bus was transporting drivers to Le Shuttle The incident involved a minibus that was transporting heavy goods vehicle drivers about to board LeShuttle, authorities have said. Train and bus collided at around 7pm It is understood the crash took place at around 7pm local time. The coach driver is among the 19 people injured. Crash occurred on loading platform The accident occurred at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel in Calais, French authorities have said. Five people in 'critical condition' According to initial reports in France, five people are in critical condition. The AFP news agency, citing the local prefecture, says these five are likely to be downgraded to "relative emergency" or stable. None are said to be in life-threatening condition. At least 19 people injured A collision between a bus and a train on the French side of the Channel tunnel left 19 injured, including the driver, on Thursday evening, French authorities said.