Seven dead and over 100 hurt in Egypt train collision
Rescue teams worked at the scene of a rail accident near Giza, while officials warned the death toll could climb.
Key points
- At least seven people have died after two trains collided near Giza, according to Egyptian authorities
- More than 100 people were reported injured, with some carriages overturned and down an embankment
- Officials confirmed that a train operator was among those killed in the crash
- President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi ordered an investigation into the crash
- Rail services between Giza and Upper Egypt were suspended
At least seven people have died and more than 100 have been injured after two trains collided near the Egyptian city of Giza, according to the BBC. The country’s railway authority said the crash involved two services, one heading south from Giza and another from Cairo. Several carriages left the tracks and fell down an embankment.
Footage and photographs from the site showed workers and onlookers peering into wrecked carriages in search of those who might still be hurt. Emergency crews were deployed in large numbers. The public prosecutor’s office has warned that the number of deaths could rise.
How the collision happened
The first train was travelling from Giza to Fayoum, south of Cairo. It ran into the rear of a second service that was heading from Cairo to Aswan and was standing still on the tracks. Some carriages overturned, and the BBC reported that at least one carriage appeared to be cut in half.
The crash took place between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations in the Al-Ayyat area. The area is close to the site of Egypt’s deadliest rail disaster, in February 2002, when a fire swept through a passenger train travelling from Cairo to Luxor. Official figures for that tragedy put the dead at more than 370, though some estimates are much higher. The same stretch of track was the scene of two more accidents in 2009, which claimed dozens of lives.
Response from officials
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has instructed state authorities to examine what led to the accident. He said anyone found to have been careless would be held responsible. Hospitals in the region have been placed on heightened alert because of the large number of patients arriving.
Health minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the injured were being treated mainly for broken bones and head wounds. Officials also verified that one of the people who lost their lives was the operator of a train involved in the collision.
Train services between Giza and the Upper Egypt region have been halted. Cranes were sent to the scene to lift the damaged trains off the tracks. Reports say this work is likely to disrupt travel on the line for some time.
Why the crash matters
Rail safety has been a long-running concern in Egypt, and the latest accident has revived questions about the network. On Sunday, calls were made within the country for the transport minister to resign over the disaster. No official response to those calls has been confirmed in the reports available.
Key facts remain unconfirmed, including the cause of the collision and whether the death toll will rise. Investigators have not yet published a finding. Officials have promised accountability, but the outcome of the inquiry is not yet known.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Egypt train collision?
At least seven people have died, according to reports. Officials have warned the death toll could rise, and more than 100 people were also injured.
Where did the train crash happen?
The collision took place near the city of Giza, between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations in the Al-Ayyat area. It involved trains travelling between Giza, Cairo, Fayoum and Aswan.
What has the Egyptian government said about the crash?
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi ordered an investigation and promised accountability for anyone found negligent. Hospitals in the area were put on heightened alert, and train services in the region were suspended.
Sources
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