Four children were killed after a train and a school bus collided outside the town of Perpignan in southwestern France on Thursday, the interior ministry said, Reuters reported.
Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne described the crash as a “terrible accident” and said on Twitter that she was heading immediately to the scene, more than 850 km (530 miles) from Paris.
“All emergency services have been mobilized and a crisis coordination unit set up,” an official at the local Millas townhall told Reuters.
The interior ministry said seven people were seriously injured among the 19.
Video images showed a long line of ambulance and emergency service vehicles near the crossing where the collision occurred.