Dozens injured in France after train crashes into fallen tree

At least eight people have been seriously injured after a French passenger train collided with a fallen tree uprooted during a hailstorm.

The regional TER train, carrying 219 passengers, crashed at Lunel, between Nimes and Montpellier in the south of France. Rail operator SNCF says the train was travelling at 87mph at the time.

One person was reportedly thrown from the train during the collision and 50 others suffered minor injuries or shock.

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"At least one helicopter was at the scene to carry the injured to a nearby hospital while others gathered on the train tracks," The Local reports.

A passenger from Luxembourg described the scene: "We were on the train when hailstones the size of ping-pong balls started falling, then we heard what sounded like an explosion.

"The train shook for a few seconds and then I saw some people whose heads were covered in blood."

According to the BBC, some travellers "initially thought the crash was the beginning of a terrorist attack, after the string of incidents across Europe in recent months".

Despite the collision, the train did not derail and SNCF officials say the line will re-open later today.