Egypt: Dozens Killed in Train Collision

32 people have been killed in a train collision in Sohag, Egypt. Authorities say that more than 60 others have been injured.

Al Jazeera reports that more than 60 ambulances had beeb sent to the scene of the crash, which Egypt’s railway authority said occurred when the emergency brakes on one of the trains was triggered by “unknown individuals”, causing it to suddenly stop. The other train then crashed into the stationary one from behind.

The drivers of both trains have reportedly been detained by police.

Al Jazeera reports that accidents involving trains are common in Egypt, where the railway network is vast but aged. Hundreds of lives have been lost to train smashes in recent years, with President Abdel Fatah al Sisi having claimed in 2018 that the government simply did not possess the 250 billion Egyptian pounds ($14.1 billion), to fix the country’s rickety rail system.

Egypt’s rail authority said an investigation into Friday’s crash is underway. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Minister of Transportation is expected to visit the scene.

Umm Muhammed Umar

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