88 Injured as Trains Collide Near Cairo, Killing 4; Another Report Gives Higher Toll
Casualties and response
Two trains crashed south of Egypt’s capital, Cairo. The Health Ministry reported at least four deaths and 88 people wounded, who were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
President expresses concern
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on social media that he was following the aftermath of the collision. He offered condolences to the families of those who died, writing that he did so “with great concern,” according to his post.
Rail network challenges
Last September, a driver and assistant were injured when two freight trains collided in the same district. The earlier crash was also on the railway network near Cairo.
Egypt has spent billions of dollars over the past decade on transport improvements, including new highways and high-speed rail lines. Much of the country’s aging rail network, however, has yet to be overhauled.
Key points
- The Health Ministry reported four deaths and 88 wounded, while another account gave higher casualty figures.
- Emergency crews and cranes were dispatched to clear the wreckage and restore train services.
- A freight-train collision in the same district injured two railway workers last September.
- Egypt has invested billions in transport infrastructure, but much of its rail network remains aging.