Train collision in Egypt's Giza kills 4, injures 88: health ministry

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Two trains collided south of the Egyptian capital on Sunday, derailing several carriages, killing four and injuring dozens, according to the authorities.</p> <p>Egypt’s railway authority said a train travelling from Giza to Fayoum crashed into the rear of another service heading south from Cairo to the city of Aswan.</p> <p>The health ministry said an initial count put the toll from the crash at four passengers killed, with 88 others currently being treated for injuries in hospitals around the Giza area.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/2119431638039908531'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/2119431638039908531"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>State-owned media had earlier reported 120 people were wounded, without clarifying the degree of injury.</p> <p>President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he was following the accident “with great concern”, and had directed authorities to conduct an urgent investigation to “hold accountable anyone found to have been negligent”.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/AlsisiOfficial/status/2119432349255397887'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/AlsisiOfficial/status/2119432349255397887"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Emergency crews used cranes to remove the wreckage, the authority said.</p> <p>Authorities said they had launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, which occurred in Giza’s Al-Ayyat area, the site of Egypt’s worst-ever rail disaster.</p> <p>Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar extended condolences to Egypt in the wake of the “tragic” accident, particularly the bereaved families.</p> <p>“Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and we wish them a swift and full recovery,” he said. “Pakistan stands in solidarity with Egypt and its people during this difficult time.”</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/MIshaqDar50/status/2119476649498714151'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50/status/2119476649498714151"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>In 2002, more than <a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/23439">370 people were killed</a> when a fire swept through a train carrying holiday travellers south of Cairo.</p> <p>In 2009, multiple train crashes in the area killed <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/498614/two-passenger-trains-collide-in-egypt-killing-25">dozens</a>.</p> <p>Egypt’s 110 million people depend heavily on rail transport, but the network — one of the largest in Africa — has suffered <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1619075">repeated</a> deadly <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1614835">accidents</a>.</p> <p>Over the past decade, Egypt has poured billions of dollars into updating its transport infrastructure, including new highways and high-speed rail lines, but has yet to overhaul much of its ageing rail network.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.