There are at least two dead and seven have been injured as a passenger train derailed in French Alps, according to AFP citing the firefighters.

"It needs confirmation but one of the two deceased is an English tourist, and a Russian is feared the second, but this remains to be confirmed," said Annot Mayor Jean Ballester, as cited by French newspaper Le Figaro.

There are conflicting reports of the number of injured. According to a Reuters’ source “close to the regional authority”, 19 passengers suffered light injuries and one was seriously hurt.

The two-carriage train, traveling from the coastal city of Nice, was en route to the town of Digne-les-Bains, capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, when the accident happened. The train is said to have derailed at around 11:00 am between the communes (a level of administrative division in France) of Annet and Saint-Benoit.

According to the France 2 public TV channel, there were 34 passengers on board while Reuters reports about 23 people.

According to Annot’s Mayor Ballester, a rock, the size of a car became dislodged from the mountain and hit the train causing the derailment.

The information was also confirmed by Jean-Yves Petit, vice president of the regional authority in charge of transport,

"When the train passed, a landslide occurred on the rails and caused its derailment," he said. The rock then fell f thirty feet below, taking down trees in its path.

Three medical teams and a helicopter were immediately sent to the scene. A rescue operation to free those trapped in the train continues.

• A Permanent Economic Emergency