Nineteen injured in collision between minibus and train on Eurotunnel loading platform

Nineteen people have been injured after a minibus collided with a stationary freight train at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel near Calais, French authorities have said.

Pas-de-Calais underprefect Agathe Cury said 18 passengers and the bus driver were injured in the incident.

She told reporters that two people – including the driver – were critically injured and airlifted to the University hospital in Lille.

The remaining 17 were taken to hospitals in Helfaut, Calais, Boulogne, Montreuil-sur-Mer and Dunkirk.

Cury added: “There is no risk to anyone’s life.”

The minibus was carrying lorry drivers bound for a shuttle train service through the tunnel on Thursday evening.

About 200 emergency responders and other personnel rushed to the scene. The shuttle service through the tunnel was suspended for 90 minutes before gradually resuming by late evening, authorities said.

Cury said an inquiry had been launched into the causes of the incident.

She added “for reasons currently unknown” the minibus struck the shuttle “as it was departing”.

Eurostar said the incident was not expected to affect its service. It said in a status update: “An incident occurred several kilometres away from the Channel tunnel. This incident does not involve or impact Eurostar trains running from and to London. All of Eurostar trains will run as expected.”

The Pas-de-Calais prefecture said earlier in a statement: “An accident involving a minibus carrying heavy goods vehicle drivers, headed to board a LeShuttle train, occurred this evening at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel site.

“Significant resources were immediately deployed by Eurotunnel, and subsequently placed under the authority of the Prefect of the Pas-de-Calais department.

“Early reports suggest that 19 people were involved, including the driver. At this stage, there are no fatalities, and no one’s life is considered to be in danger.”

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 present at the scene.

The tunnel, which opened in 1994, carried 3.4m vehicles last year along with millions of Eurostar passengers.