Death Toll Rises to Seven in Egypt Train Crash

UPDATE - follow-up to Train collision in Egypt's Giza kills four, injures 88 others: Health Ministry: Seven people are now confirmed dead following a train collision south of the Egyptian capital on Sunday. Egypt's railway authority said a train going from Giza to Fayoum crashed into the back of another service heading south from Cairo to Aswan.

Casualties

The Health Ministry stated that 112 people were injured in the crash and are being treated in hospitals around the Giza area. The injuries include bruises, cuts, bone fractures, head wounds, and chest injuries. Forty-five patients have already left the hospital after treatment, and seven more are expected to be discharged soon. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he is following the accident closely and ordered a quick inquiry to punish anyone found to be at fault.

Rescue Efforts

Witnesses reported chaotic rescue scenes as villagers, first responders, and railway workers tried to reach people trapped inside overturned carriages. Abdel Wahed Mohamed said the Aswan-bound train had stopped when the Fayoum-bound service hit it at about 1:30 pm, causing six carriages to turn over. Another witness, Ahmed Moussa, said rescuers dug under an overturned carriage to reach trapped passengers. Journalists saw several carriages scattered across the tracks and farmland, with heavy machinery and cranes being used to lift the wreckage.

Context

This accident took place in Giza's Al-Ayyat area, which is known for previous major rail disasters, including a deadly 2002 fire and crashes in 2009. Egypt has a population of 110 million people who rely heavily on trains for travel across one of the largest rail networks in Africa. While the government has spent billions on new roads and high-speed rail lines over the past decade, much of the older rail network still needs to be upgraded.