A major incident unfolded in western Egypt on Saturday as a passenger train derailed, causing a tragic loss of life. At least three people lost their lives in the accident, and a total of 94 passengers were injured, as confirmed by officials. Railway authorities reported that the train was en route from Matrouh province, situated on the northern coast, to Cairo when it went off the rails. Seven carriages were derailed, with two of them overturning.
The Ministry of Health provided details on the casualties in a separate statement, revealing that 30 ambulances were deployed to transport the injured to hospitals. Railway officials announced that an investigation has begun to uncover the reasons behind the derailment.
Egypt’s railway system frequently experiences derailments and accidents, largely due to its aging infrastructure and the challenges of mismanagement. Last October, a passenger train traveling to Cairo was involved in a rear-end collision with an engine, resulting in at least one death and numerous injuries.
The government has introduced various projects in recent years aimed at enhancing its railway network. In 2018, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted that around 250 billion Egyptian pounds, equating to $8.13 billion USD, would be needed to thoroughly improve the country’s neglected rail system.