STRASBOURG, France (AFP) — Two trams collided in a tunnel in a rare accident in the eastern French city of Strasbourg on Saturday, injuring dozens of people, authorities said.

The collision occurred near Strasbourg’s main train station, one of the busiest in France outside Paris.

Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot said “probably around 36” people were injured in the accident, while firefighters put that figure at around 50.

A video posted by a witness on social media showed a chaotic scene with the two trams significantly damaged in a tunnel near the station.

One of the trams appeared to have derailed as a result of the impact, whose cause has yet to be established.

“The public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation,” the prefecture said.

A large security perimeter was set up in front of the station, where ambulances took up position, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist at the scene.

Paramedics and firefighters loaded injured people secured on stretchers into ambulances. Other victims received first aid under the station’s glass roof.

Strasbourg was the first major French city to re-introduce trams in 1994, after the service closed in 1960.

Since the return of the vehicles, there have been no major accidents.

‘Brutal collision’

Strasbourg’s mayor Jeanne Barseghian and other officials rushed to the station.

The accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m.

“What we know at this stage is that there was a brutal collision between two trams, on the platform, under the station,” Barseghian said.

“There were a number of people on the trams,” she said, adding that there were no fatalities or people in “absolute urgency.”

Some of the injured were in a state of shock as a result of the “head-on” impact which was “relatively violent,” the mayor added, expressing her support.

Patrick Maciejewski, chairman of the board of directors of the Strasbourg transport company (CTS), said that there had been demonstrations in central Strasbourg, which had disrupted tram traffic.

“A number of trams had to be reorganized and put on standby. There was a traffic jam,” he said.

Rene Cellier, director of the Bas-Rhin fire and rescue service, said around 50 people had suffered non-fatal injuries such as scalp wounds, clavicle fractures and knee sprains.

“Mostly trauma,” said Cellier.

“There are also around 100 people who have no particular injuries but are being seen by the doctors,” he added.