At least seven people have been killed and more than 100 injured after two passenger trains collided near the Egyptian city of Giza, triggering a major emergency response.
Egypt’s railway authority said one train travelling from Giza to Fayoum struck the rear of a stationary train operating from Cairo to Aswan. The collision occurred between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations in Al-Ayyat, south of Cairo, causing several carriages to derail and overturn down an embankment.
The driver of one of the trains was among those killed, according to the Ministry of Health. Emergency teams were deployed to rescue passengers trapped inside the wreckage, while hospitals in the area were placed on heightened alert to receive casualties.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said injured passengers were being treated for broken bones and head injuries. The Egyptian Red Crescent also provided emergency assistance and psychological support to victims and their families.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the collision, calling for anyone found negligent to be held accountable. The public prosecutor’s office warned that the death toll could rise.
Train services between Giza and the Upper Egypt region were suspended as recovery teams deployed cranes to remove the wreckage. Authorities had not announced when services would resume.
The crash occurred near the site of one of Egypt’s deadliest railway disasters. In February 2002, a fire aboard a passenger train travelling from Cairo to Luxor killed more than 370 people, according to official figures.
The latest collision has renewed scrutiny of railway safety in Egypt, with calls emerging for the transport minister to resign.
International reactions have also followed, with Saudi Arabia expressing solidarity with Egypt and wishing those injured a speedy recovery. Turkey’s ambassador to Egypt extended condolences to the victims, their families and the Egyptian people.
