The minister said that information on the number of dead and wounded was "constantly evolving", adding that several train carriages were lying on their sides.
The Paris prefect's office said a "red alert" plan had been activated and the interior ministry confirmed the accident, but no further details were immediately available.
An Intercity train to Limoges derailed around 5pm in the municipality of Brétigny-sur-Orge, French newspaper Le Parisien is reporting. Emergency services are attending.


Eight people are thought to be dead and many of the wounded are still stuck in the trains.
Local MP Michel Pouzol said emergency services were on the scene.
A police source quoted by Le Figaro website said the train had split in two for reasons that were as yet unclear.
Other media reports spoke of passengers being electrocuted and crushed.
A photo on the website of the Le Parisien daily, taken from Twitter, showed a train carriage completely off its rails and smashed against a platform at the station of Bretigny-sur-Orge, located about 26 km (16 miles) south of Paris.
AFP
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