Egypt train collision south of Cairo: what we know about the crash

Two passenger trains collided south of Cairo on Sunday. According to official figures, at least seven people were killed and 112 others injured. Investigators are now working to find out how it happened.

What happened?

The crash took place near Al-Ayyat, roughly 50 kilometres south of the Egyptian capital. A train travelling from Giza to Fayoum ran into a train heading from Cairo towards Aswan in southern Egypt.

Several carriages derailed. Photos shared by local media show wagons lying on their sides along the track, while others tipped off the railway embankment onto farmland.

We reported the first figures on Sunday: seven dead and 112 injured. Those numbers still stand in the latest official statements.

What is being done at the scene?

More than 70 ambulances were deployed to treat the injured and take them to hospitals. Cranes were also brought in to clear the wreckage, with the aim of reopening the line to rail traffic as quickly as possible.

The authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the collision. No cause has been announced so far.

Why do rail accidents keep happening in Egypt?

Serious train accidents happen regularly in Egypt, and in past years they have repeatedly left dozens dead and injured. One of the worst came in 2002 in Giza, when a fire broke out on a train travelling from Cairo to Luxor in the south. More than 360 people died.

Many Egyptians depend on trains to get around. The country has one of the largest rail networks in Africa. Over the past ten years, however, investment has gone mainly into high-speed rail links and new motorways. A large part of the ageing conventional network still needs to be renovated.

What's next?

For now, the focus is on caring for the injured and clearing the line. The investigation into the cause is ongoing, and the authorities have not yet said when it might be completed.