Collision between 2 trains in Egypt kills 7 and injures at least 125

On Sunday, a tragic collision occurred between two trains south of Cairo, Egypt, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals and injuries to at least 125 others, according to authorities. The conductor of one of the trains was among the fatalities. The Health Ministry reported the casualty figures, stating that over 70 injured passengers had been discharged following treatment.

The accident took place in the al-Ayyat district of Giza province, situated approximately 52 kilometers (32 miles) south of Cairo. It occurred when a train en route to Fayoum province collided with the rear of another train heading towards Aswan province, as stated by the Transportation Ministry.

The Chief Prosecutor's office confirmed that investigators had arrived at the scene that same day. The investigation revealed the crash had occurred when the Giza-Fayoum train collided with the stationary rear car of the Cairo-Aswan train, which was traveling in the same direction, according to officials. Train derailments and accidents are frequent occurrences in Egypt, where the railway system has a history of inadequate management and maintenance of equipment. In recent years, the government has initiated modernization projects to address these issues.

Eyewitness Ayman Gamal, a resident of Kafr Girza in al-Ayyat, recounted that residents quickly rushed to the scene, extracted survivors, and called for ambulances. He mentioned that around 80 injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulances. Some passengers were trapped within the stationary train and were found dead upon extraction, he added.

Nearby survivors at al-Wasta Central Hospital in Beni Suef province described the injured as being in shock and struggling to breathe due to the dust stirred up by the collision. Some cars were severely damaged, according to survivor Farha Gamal, who was inside the Fayyoum train. She observed some passengers who appeared lifeless and others who were struggling to exit the damaged car.

Egypt experienced its deadliest train crash in 2002, when a fire broke out on an overnight train journey from Cairo to southern Egypt, resulting in over 300 fatalities. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi issued a statement ordering a swift investigation into the recent collision. Emergency teams and cranes were dispatched to the site to clear the wreckage and restore normal train operations as quickly as possible, as reported by the Egyptian Railway Authority.