Nineteen people, including the driver and 18 passengers, were injured when a minibus slammed into a stationary train near the Channel Tunnel entrance in France on Thursday evening. Local authorities confirmed that while five victims sustained severe injuries, none are in life-threatening condition, according to a statement from the departmental prefect.
The minibus was transporting truck drivers who were scheduled to board the train for the tunnel crossing. Emergency services rushed to the scene immediately after the collision, which occurred close to the tunnel's official entry point. The crash disrupted operations significantly, forcing the cancellation of two Eurostar trains running between France and England on Thursday evening.
The local deputy prefect is scheduled to hold a press conference at 10:30 pm (2030 GMT) at the nearby Eurotunnel headquarters to provide further details on the incident and the ongoing investigation. Until then, authorities are working to clear the site and restore normal rail operations, though no immediate timeline for resumption has been announced.