French TGV evacuated after mystery illness of several passengers
A strong odour was reported by many on the train
Some passengers were delayed by around six hours waiting for investigations into the issue to conclude. Photo for illustrative purposes only
olrat / Shutterstock
A train carrying 1,200 passengers was halted for several hours in the west of France yesterday (July 11) after several passengers became unwell and suffered breathing difficulties.
The TGV service between Paris and Nantes was stopped at around 20:00 in Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe), with chemical experts and doctors attending the scene.
Passengers, all situated in the same coach of the train, reported symptoms including sore throats and trouble breathing.
Others reported a strong, gaseous odour, particularly from the toilets on coach 18, where the passengers who fell sick were located.
Between 15 and 20 people suffered symptoms, and were treated by masked healthcare workers once they disembarked from the train.
Police officers, medical staff, and pompiers – including a chemical response unit – were deployed to investigate.
The train was forced to remain in the station whilst investigations were carried out, in case there was a serious issue relating to a toxic substance.
The other passengers also had to leave the train whilst the search was conducted, with local authorities temporarily opening a gymnasium in the city to shelter them.
However, they were not considered to be infected with any illness, and were free to leave if they wanted to.
The SNCF organised special trains to serve nearby Angers and Nantes which arrived around 23:00, but not all of the unaffected passengers were able to board these trains.
The sick passengers were treated for several hours. At around 02:00 authorities concluded there was no wider risk relating to the train, and that symptoms had subsided.
The train was then allowed to continue.
“The analyses carried out show that none of the substances found were harmful,” reported the department’s prefecture after the event.
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Were vandals behind the issue?
Although authorities allowed the train to complete its voyage, the cause of the issue is still unknown.
Passengers reported that one of the train’s conductors had used the tannoy to report “an act of vandalism” soon into the journey, before some of their fellow travellers started to become ill.
One of the passengers described the feeling as similar “to being hit by tear gas,” according to Le Parisien.
No arrests have been reported.
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