Seven Die and Over 125 Injured in Egypt Train Collision Near Cairo

At least seven people died and more than 125 others were injured when two trains collided in Egypt’s Giza province on Sunday.

The crash occurred in the al-Ayyat district, approximately 30 to 32 miles south of Cairo, when a train traveling from Giza to the Fayoum province rammed into the rear of a stationary train heading toward Aswan.

The collision took place between the Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations, causing several carriages to derail and overturn onto a countryside road.

According to an inspection by officials, the Giza-Fayoum train struck the final carriage of the Cairo-Aswan service, which was stationary on the same track and traveling in the same direction.

Egypt train collision near Cairo leaves at least seven people dead

Health Ministry Reports Seven Deaths and Many Injuries

The Health Ministry confirmed that the death toll reached seven, including the conductor of the Fayoum-bound train.

While casualty estimates varied slightly across reports, the Health Ministry reported more than 125 injuries, with at least 45 patients already discharged as their conditions improved. Other reports specified 112 or 114 injuries, noting that 45 patients had been discharged and seven others were expected to be released soon, while the remaining injured continued to receive treatment under medical observation.

Seven Die and Over 125 Injured in Egypt Train Collision Near Cairo — Photo: The Guardian

Emergency operations involved at least 70 to 72 ambulances transporting the wounded to multiple hospitals in Giza and the nearby Beni Suef governorate. In response to the surge of patients, Health Minister Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar ordered all local medical facilities to raise their level of preparedness to provide all necessary medical and emergency support.

Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic environment where villagers and first responders scrambled to reach passengers trapped in the mangled wreckage. Ayman Gamal, a resident of Kafr Girza in al-Ayyat, said people nearby rushed to the scene to pull out survivors and call for help.

Two passenger trains collide in Egypt, leaving 7 dead and 112 injured near Cairo

Gamal observed approximately 80 injured people being transported to hospitals by ambulance and noted that some passengers were trapped inside the stationary train and were already deceased when they were pulled from the cars.

Other witnesses provided accounts of the immediate aftermath. Abdel Wahed Mohamed, 31, who was at a nearby cafe, stated the train overturned at approximately 1:30 pm, involving six overturned carriages and causing injuries such as broken limbs and head wounds.

Ahmed Moussa, 25, observed rescuers digging under an overturned carriage to reach people inside, noting that passengers were piled on top of one another. Taha Abdel Tawab, 43, reported seeing a young man carrying his deceased father away from the site.

Two trains collided south of the Egyptian capital on November 8, derailing several carriages — Photo: The National

Farha Gamal, a survivor from the Fayoum train, noted that some passengers were struggling to find their way out of the cars while others appeared dead. She described the scene by stating, There were other cars that were completely mangled,

Survivors at al-Wasta central hospital in Beni Suef province reported that passengers were in a state of shock and had difficulty breathing due to the dust kicked up by the collision.

Seven killed, 112 injured in train collision in Egypt

President El-Sisi Orders Investigation into the Accident

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated he was monitoring the disaster with great concern and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. He also extended wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

I have directed state agencies to provide the necessary medical care, promptly investigate the circumstances of the accident, and hold accountable anyone found to have been negligent.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

The Chief Prosecutor’s office dispatched investigators to the crash site and local hospitals to interview passengers and determine the exact cause of the collision. A government statement noted that prosecutors were present at both the scene and the medical facilities where the wounded were being treated.

Egypt Passenger Train Derails: What We Know So Far - Newsweek — Photo: Newsweek

Infrastructure and Safety Concerns in Al-Ayyat

The al-Ayyat district has a history of significant rail accidents. Other historical accidents in the area include multiple crashes in 2009 that killed dozens, a 2017 head-on collision near Alexandria that killed more than 40 people, and a 2019 incident in Ramses Square where a train fire killed 25 people.

More recent incidents have also plagued the region. In August of last year, a train derailment en route to Cairo injured more than 100 people and killed three. In September, two freight trains collided in the same district, resulting in injuries to a driver and his assistant. Two trains collided in Minya province in October 2024, killing at least two people.

7 dead, over 100 injured in Egypt train collision

The Transport Ministry has been a major borrower of foreign debt to fund such upgrades, yet the system continues to face challenges related to mismanagement, poor maintenance of equipment, human error at level crossings, and signal malfunctions. In 2018, President el-Sisi noted that approximately 250 billion Egyptian pounds, or $8.13 billion, would be required to overhaul the neglected network.

Officials have not specified how long the restoration process will take.