CAIRO — At least seven people were killed and more than 100 others injured in a collision between two trains south of the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday, authorities said.
The accident occurred in al-Ayyat district of Giza province, about 52 km south of Cairo, when a train bound for the southwestern province of Fayoum crashed into the rear of a train heading to the southern province of Aswan, according to the Transport Ministry. One of the trains derailed, he said, without specifying which one.
According to the Ministry of Health, 72 ambulances were deployed to the scene to help transport victims to three different hospitals in the area.
The Health Ministry initially announced that four people had been killed, but raised the death toll to seven later in the day.
At least 112 other people were injured in the crash and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, the statement said. The most commonly reported injuries were bruises, fractures and lacerations, the ministry said, and at least 45 people have already been released.
“The ministry extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement said.
Al-Ayyat is located near the Nile, south of Giza, the province famous for being home to Egypt’s ancient pyramids.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said in a social media post that he had ordered a swift investigation into the accident to hold those responsible accountable.
Emergency teams and cranes were dispatched to the scene to clear the rubble and restore train services to their normal schedule as soon as possible, the Egyptian Railway Authority said.
Last September, a train driver and his assistant were injured when two freight trains collided in the same area.
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