Two Trains Collide in Giza, Killing Seven and Injuring Over 100
Investigators found a moving train struck the rear of a stationary service south of Cairo, prompting President el-Sissi to order a rapid review of safety protocols.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Seven people lost their lives and more than 100 others sustained injuries when two trains collided in the al-Ayyat district of Giza province on Sunday. The Chief Prosecutor’s office confirmed the death toll in an official statement, noting that the conductor of one of the trains was among those killed. The accident occurred approximately 52 kilometers south of Cairo, disrupting rail traffic in the region.
The Transportation Ministry reported that a train bound for the southwestern Fayoum province crashed into the rear of another train heading toward the southern province of Aswan. Investigators determined that the Aswan-bound train was stationary on the track when the impact occurred, despite both vehicles traveling in the same direction. The collision specifically involved the last carriage of the stopped train.
Local residents reacted quickly to the emergency. Ayman Gamal, a resident of Kafr Girza in the crash zone, stated that neighbors rushed to the scene to pull survivors from the wreckage and summon medical help. Gamal estimated that around 80 injured individuals were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals. He observed that some passengers were trapped inside a carriage of the stationary train and were pronounced dead upon extraction.
Egypt’s rail system has a documented history of mechanical failures and maintenance issues, leading to frequent derailments in recent years. In response to these recurring incidents, the government has announced various modernization initiatives aimed at upgrading equipment and infrastructure. The current accident follows a similar incident in the same district last September, where a collision between two freight trains injured a driver and his assistant.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi issued a social media post following the crash, ordering a prompt investigation into the causes of the collision. The Egyptian Railway Authority dispatched emergency teams and cranes to the site to clear debris. Their immediate goal is to restore train services to the normal schedule as quickly as possible while ensuring the safety of the remaining fleet.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Egypt’s rail network. While the 2002 crash remains the deadliest in the country’s history, killing more than 300 people during an overnight journey from Cairo, Sunday’s accident underscores the ongoing risks for daily commuters. Authorities continue to assess the structural damage to both trains and the surrounding track.
