The village of al-Reqqa in the al-Ayyat district of Giza Governorate witnessed a collision between two trains on Giza-Fayoum and Cairo-Aswan lines on Sunday.
The accident caused several carriages to derail, resulting in casualties and injuries.
State authorities took urgent actions to address the aftermath and transport the injured to hospitals, while the incident drew responses from both the House of Representatives and the Presidency.
Upon being notified of the accident, police commanders, executive officials, and investigative personnel arrived at the scene to oversee the situation firsthand. A security cordon was established around the area to facilitate rescue and evacuation operations.
Details of the collision
The Egyptian National Railways Authority announced a collision between train #134 (“Tahya Misr”), traveling from Giza to Fayoum, and the rear of train No. 2010, traveling from Cairo to Aswan, between the Kafr Ammar and al- Reqqa stations.
The collision resulted in several carriages derailing and passengers killed and other sustaining injuries. It also caused a disruption to train traffic along the line in both directions, toward Upper Egypt and toward the north.
The Authority said that it has dispatched emergency teams and cranes to the scene to clear the wreckage, remove the damaged carriages, and restore regular train operations along the Cairo–High Dam line in both directions.
Up to 114 Injured and 7 Dead
Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, ordered that the state of readiness be raised across all healthcare facilities in the governorates of Giza and Beni Suef, and that the necessary medical care and emergency services be provided to those injured.
Seventy-two ambulances participated in the transport and evacuation operations. The total number of injured has reached 114, while the death toll stands at seven; all cases are now under the purview of the Public Prosecution.
The Ministry of Health affirmed that it is closely monitoring the health status of the injured and providing them with comprehensive medical care.
The Ministry also expressed its deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
An official source at the Ministry of Transport revealed that the driver of train No. 134, “Tahya Misr,” died following the collision with train No. 2010 (Cairo–Aswan).
Officials at the scene
As part of the response to the incident, Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir and Giza Governor Ahmed Rashed arrived at the scene.
Support for the victims, their families
Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy directed the Central Administration for Social Protection to coordinate immediately with the Giza Directorate of Social Solidarity and the Egyptian Red Crescent relief team to monitor the situation and provide necessary support and relief interventions.
Investigations
Security forces established a security cordon around the site of the collision to prevent crowds from gathering and to facilitate the movement of ambulances and railway authority recovery equipment.
Authorities have begun conducting preliminary inquiries and interviewing eyewitnesses, including passengers and local residents, to determine the causes of the accident and its technical and operational circumstances.
Parliamentary inquiry
MP Sanaa al-Saeed, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted a parliamentary inquiry regarding the incident to the Speaker of the House, addressed to the Prime Minister and the Transport Minister.
The MP said that the accident raises fundamental questions concerning the efficiency of the Egyptian National Railways’ operational, control, signaling, oversight, and maintenance systems, as well as the extent to which the ministry properly adheres to safety protocols.
She added that the development of the railway sector should not be measured solely by the amount spent on purchasing trains or upgrading stations, but rather by the state’s ability to safeguard the lives of its citizens and ensure they reach their destinations safely.
Financial Regulatory Authority
The Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) Islam Azzam directed the “Insurance Pool for Railway and Metro Accident Risks” to expedite the necessary procedures for disbursing compensation to the families of the victims of this tragic accident.
He further ordered an exceptional increase in the compensation amount—from LE 30,000 to LE 50,000—for cases of death or permanent total disability.
Sisi yntervenes
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that he is closely monitoring the aftermath of the train collision in Giza. He expressed his deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.
Sisi added that he has instructed state authorities to provide the necessary medical care to the injured, to conduct an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the accident, and to hold accountable anyone found to have been negligent.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
