Four people were killed and 88 were injured on Sunday when two passenger trains collided south of Cairo, in Egypt. The crash took place in Giza province, about 76 kilometres south of the capital. Several carriages left the tracks. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, and hospitals in the area went on high alert.
What Happened Near Giza
Egypt’s railway authority said a train travelling from Giza to Fayoum hit the back of another train. The second train was travelling from Cairo to Aswan, in the south of Egypt. The crash took place between Kafr Ammar and Al Raqqa stations, in the Al-Ayyat area. The force of the hit pushed several carriages off the tracks. Images from the scene showed carriages tilted and lying beside the line. Some had slid down an embankment next to the tracks. Local media said a train driver was among the dead. The exact time of the crash and the full list of the dead have not been shared yet. Train services between Giza and Upper Egypt were stopped after the crash. Emergency teams and cranes were sent to clear the wreckage and try to reopen the line.
Rescue Work and Hospitals
Egypt’s Health Ministry said 72 ambulances went to the scene. They carried the injured to three hospitals in the area. Al Wasta Hospital in Beni Suef took 49 people. Al Ayyat Hospital took 29 people. Atfih Hospital took 10 people. Together, that is 88 injured people. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar told hospitals in Giza and Beni Suef to raise their level of readiness. He asked them to give the injured full emergency care. The ministry said it was watching the condition of the injured and giving them all the care they need. Egypt’s Transport Ministry sent buses to carry passengers between Al Wasta and Al Ayyat stations, and between Al Munib and Al Ayyat, in both directions. The buses will run until train services start again. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly sent his condolences to the families of those killed. He said the government would give them all the support they need. He added that he was closely following efforts to care for the injured and support their families.
Why Egypt Trains Crash Again
This crash matters because it is not the first one in this part of Egypt. Al-Ayyat is the site of Egypt’s worst-ever rail disaster. In 2002, a fire swept through a train carrying holiday travellers south of Cairo. More than 370 people were killed. In 2009, several train crashes in the same area killed dozens of people. Train accidents are not rare in Egypt. The main causes are often human error at level crossings and faults in signals. About 110 million people live in Egypt, and a huge number of them depend on trains every day. The rail network is one of the largest in Africa. Over the past ten years, Egypt has spent billions of dollars on new roads, new trains and high-speed rail lines. But much of the old rail network has not been fully rebuilt. That is why every new crash raises the same question: when will the old lines and the old safety systems be fixed? The answer matters to millions of daily passengers, not just to the people hurt on Sunday.
Investigation and Next Steps
The cause of Sunday’s crash is not known yet. The authorities said they have started an investigation. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he was following the accident with great concern. He ordered a swift investigation and said anyone found to have been careless should be held accountable. He also sent his condolences to the families of those killed. The railway authority said emergency crews were clearing the wreckage to restore services on the Cairo to Upper Egypt line. It did not say how long that would take. The death toll may still change, as the Health Ministry called its count an initial one. More details are expected as the investigation goes on and as hospitals update the condition of the injured.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| People killed | 4 |
| People injured | 88 |
| Ambulances sent | 72 |
| Taken to Al Wasta Hospital | 49 |
| Taken to Al Ayyat Hospital | 29 |
| Taken to Atfih Hospital | 10 |
| Distance south of Cairo | 76 km |
| Killed in 2002 Al-Ayyat fire | 370+ |
Between Kafr Ammar and Al Raqqa stations in the Al-Ayyat area of Giza province, about 76 kilometres south of Cairo.
Four people were killed and 88 were injured, according to Egypt’s Health Ministry. The ministry called this an initial count, so the figures may change.
The cause is not known yet. The railway authority said a train from Giza to Fayoum hit the back of a train travelling from Cairo to Aswan. An investigation is under way.
