Disasters & Accidents

Dozens killed after two trains collide in Egypt

(Update 2: Adds detail)

Cairo, Mar 26 (efe-epa).- At least 32 people were killed and more than 60 injured when two trains collided in Egypt on Friday, the health ministry said.

The accident occurred in the province of Sohag in Upper Egypt.

More than 30 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene of the accident, which is located in the Nile Valley, where the rail infrastructure is notoriously run-down.

Egypt’s railway authorities said “unknown persons” activated the emergency brake on one of the trains, causing the second to ram into it and overturn three wagons.

Health Minister Hala Zayed was traveling to the site to monitor the situation and meet with an emergency response team in Sohag, a spokesman said in a statement.

The response team will distribute medical equipment and help manage the treatment of the large number of injured passengers.

Prime minister Moustafa Madbouly said all competent ministries were coordinating to react to the situation.

Train accidents are frequent in Egypt, which has a large but dated rail network.

Authorities have on several occasions pledged to overhaul the infrastructure.

In 2019, some 22 people died and 40 were injured when a train crashed into a platform in Cairo’s central station.

The erstwhile transport minister, Hisham Arafat, resigned in the wake of the crash.EFE

se-fc/jt

Related Articles

Back to top button