Several dead and injured in a tragic train collision in Egypt

The Egyptian Ministry of Health announced the death of 32 citizens and the injury of 66 others in a two-train collision, Friday, in Sohag Governorate, southern Egypt.

The statement said: "The Ministry of Health and Population announced the death of 32 citizens and the injury of 66 others in a two-train collision in Tahta Center, Sohag Governorate," noting that 36 ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the accident to transport the injured to hospitals.

The village of Al-Sawamah West, affiliated to the Tahta Center, north of Sohag, witnessed a collision between two trains, which resulted in dozens of casualties, including one dead and one wounded.

And Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, ordered the concerned officials to immediately move to the scene of the accident, provide the necessary support, and quickly deal with the situation there.

It turned out that the accident occurred between passenger train No. 157 and another passenger train No. 2011, while the security services rushed to the site of the accident and paid 36 ambulances.

The authorities began an immediate investigation to find out the cause of the accident, while the bodies of the victims and the injured were taken to hospitals.

Official statement from the railway authority

A statement issued by the Railway Authority said that “during the course of the distinguished train 157, Luxor-Alexandria, between the stations of Maragha and Tahta, some cars were opened with danger, with the knowledge of unknown persons, and the train stopped, and in the meantime, at 11:42, the 2011 train passed the air-conditioner of Aswan, Cairo, Semaphore 709. And it collided with the back of the last carriage of Train 157, which led to the overturning of 2 wagons from the back of Train 157 which is on the tracks, and the tractor of the 2011 train, and the power wagon, overturned, which led to a number of injuries and deaths. It is being counted in cooperation with the Ministry of Health crews, and the injured have been transferred to Sohag, Tahta and Maragha hospitals, and a technical committee has been formed to find out the causes of the accident, and follow-up is underway to quickly raise the accident and run the movement of trains on the line.

Immediately after the accident, the Prime Minister phoned the Minister of Transport to find out the circumstances and nature of the accident, and demanded a report on its causes.

For his part, Kamel Al-Wazir, the Egyptian Minister of Transport, ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the circumstances of the accident, while the drivers were detained for investigation. The Egyptian Public Prosecutor ordered an investigation into the incident.

Hala Zayed, Minister of Health and Population, went to Sohag Governorate to follow up on the health status of the injured in the train collision.