OMM Newsroom
At least seven people were killed and more than 125 injured when two passenger trains collided on Sunday in Egypt’s Giza province, AnewZ reported.
The crash occurred about 76 kilometres from the capital, Cairo. The state railway authority said a train travelling from Giza city to Fayoum struck the rear of another train travelling from Cairo to Aswan, derailing several carriages.
Rescue teams are working to clear the wreckage and restore services on the Cairo–Upper Egypt railway line. Officials have not said when normal train operations will resume.
Investigation launched into crash
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered an urgent investigation into the collision. He also called for those found responsible for negligence to be held accountable.
Egypt’s Public Prosecution confirmed that an investigation had begun to determine the technical causes of the crash. No further details have been released about what caused the collision.
Egypt’s history of railway accidents
The crash has renewed concerns about railway safety in Egypt, which operates one of the oldest and largest rail networks in the Middle East and North Africa.
Serious railway accidents have occurred regularly in the country over the years, despite government efforts to improve safety and modernize aging infrastructure. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated to upgrade the network.
The country’s deadliest railway accident occurred in 2002, when fire engulfed seven carriages of an overcrowded passenger train, killing more than 350 people.
The latest collision is increasing pressure on Egyptian officials to improve railway safety and prevent further loss of life.
