182 pigs killed en route to French slaughterhouse

Metz, Aug 26 (AFP) More than 180 pigs were killed when a lorry that was transporting them to the slaughterhouse overturned at the weekend in northeastern France, rescuers said Monday. "A heavy goods vehicle (HGV) which was transporting 205 pigs overturned" at a roundabout in Etain, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the city of Metz, a spokesman said.

Only 23 pigs survived. The rest were either killed instantaneously or put down by a vet due to the severity of their injuries, the source said.

The driver only sustained minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the animals were on route to a slaughterhouse in Loiret, a department south of Paris, according to local newspaper L'Est Republicain. (AFP) AMS

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