At least seven people were killed and more than 112 injured when two trains collided on the outskirts of Cairo on Sunday, Al Jazeera reported, citing Egypt’s Health Ministry.

Authorities said a train travelling between Giza and Fayoum struck the back of a train on the Cairo-to-Aswan route in the district of al-Ayyat, in Giza province. The impact caused the Aswan-bound train to derail onto a countryside road, overturning carriages.

More than 70 ambulances took part in transport and evacuation operations, with casualties taken to nearby hospitals, authorities said.

Egyptian National Railways said emergency rescue teams and cranes were dispatched to clear the wreckage and restore normal train services.

Al-Ayyat was also the site of Egypt’s deadliest rail disaster. In 2002, more than 370 people died when fire swept through a train carrying holiday travellers south of Cairo, according to Al Jazeera.

Egypt has invested billions of dollars in transport infrastructure over the past decade, including highways and high-speed rail lines. However, much of its older rail network still needs modernisation, the outlet reported.

Sources