Nineteen people have been injured, with two in critical condition, after a minibus was involved in an accident at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel near Calais.

The accident took place in Coquelles on Thursday night, where French authorities said there was an accident involving a minibus carrying heavy goods vehicle drivers headed to board a LeShuttle train.

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

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.

Injured people who have been pixelated also appear to be receiving treatment on the platform.

Pas-de-Calais Under Prefect Agathe Cury confirmed that 18 passengers and the bus driver were injured in the crash, with two people, including the driver, were critically injured and airlifted to the hospital in Lille.

The remaining 17, none of whom are in a critical condition, were taking to hospitals in Helfaut, Calais, Boulogne, Montreuil-sur-Mer and Dunkirk.

Around 55 firefighters attended the scene, alongside 25 teams from the mobile emergency and intensive care service (Smur) and about 20 border police officers.

An inquiry has been launched into the causes of the incident.

Eurostar said the crash is not expected to impact their 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.”