Egypt: Two trains collide south of Cairo – 7 dead and 112 injured
According to the Egyptian railway authorities, a passenger train travelling from Giza to Fayum collided with another train, which had departed from Cairo and was bound for Aswan, causing several carriages to derail
At least seven people have been killed and 112 injured in a serious train accident that took place today, Sunday 8 November, in Egypt, in the province of Giza, south of Cairo.
According to the Egyptian railway authorities, a passenger train travelling from Giza to Fayum collided with another train, which had departed from Cairo and was bound for Aswan, causing several carriages to derail.
The accident took place in the Al-Ayyat district, between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations. According to an initial account by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the train bound for Aswan was stationary on the tracks at the time of the collision. The victims also include the driver of the train that caused the collision.
A total of 72 ambulances attended the scene, whilst rescue teams and heavy machinery were mobilised to clear the tracks and restore rail services. According to the Ministry of Health, 45 of the injured have already been discharged from hospital.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered an urgent investigation to establish the causes of the accident and identify those responsible. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has commissioned a technical report to examine possible shortcomings in safety systems and operational procedures.
