A devastating train collision near the Egyptian city of Giza has claimed at least seven lives and left more than 100 people injured, according to the country's railway authority. The accident occurred when two trains traveling south from Giza and Cairo collided, causing several carriages to derail and plunge down an embankment.
Images from the scene showed desperate passengers and rescuers searching overturned carriages for survivors as emergency services launched a massive response. Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the crash and vowed to hold accountable anyone found negligent.
The public prosecutor's office has warned that the death toll could rise further. Hospitals in the area have been placed on heightened alert to cope with the influx of patients, many suffering from broken bones and head injuries, according to Health Minister Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
Among the deceased was the driver of one of the trains, the ministry confirmed. The first train, traveling from Giza to Fayoum, crashed into the rear of another service heading from Cairo to Aswan, which was stationary on the tracks at the time. The impact was so severe that some carriages overturned, and at least one was split in two.
Train services between Giza and the Upper Egypt region have been suspended as cranes were dispatched to clear the wreckage. The collision occurred between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations in Al-Ayyat, a area haunted by Egypt's deadliest train disaster in February 2002, when a fire on a Cairo-to-Luxor train killed over 370 people. Two other crashes in the same area in 2009 also claimed dozens of lives.
In the wake of the latest tragedy, calls have emerged for the transport minister to resign. As the nation mourns, questions linger about the safety and maintenance of Egypt's aging railway infrastructure.
