Seven killed, 125 injured as two trains collide near Cairo

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 09, 2026

Photo courtesy: CNN

At least seven people were killed and 125 others injured when two passenger trains collided south of Cairo on Sunday, November 8, according to Egyptian authorities.

The crash occurred in the El-Ayyat district of Giza province, about 50 kilometres south of the capital. Several train carriages derailed following the collision, prompting a major emergency response.

Egypt’s National Railways Authority said a train travelling from Giza to Fayoum struck the rear of another train heading from Cairo to Aswan.

The Cairo-to-Aswan train was stationary on the same track when the collision occurred, according to preliminary findings from the public prosecutor’s office.

Emergency crews respond to deadly collision

The impact derailed several carriages and left parts of the trains severely damaged.

Emergency workers rushed to the scene to rescue passengers and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Authorities also deployed cranes to remove the wreckage and clear the railway tracks.

Egypt’s Health Ministry said 72 ambulances took part in the evacuation.

The ministry later confirmed that seven people had died and 125 others were injured.

The victims suffered various injuries, including bruises, fractures, and wounds to the head and face. Some passengers also sustained injuries to their chest, ribs and spine.

By late Sunday, hospitals had discharged 71 injured passengers after treatment. Others remained under medical observation or received further care.

President orders investigation

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered an urgent investigation into the collision.

He also directed authorities to provide medical assistance to the injured and support the families of those killed.

The president called for accountability if investigators establish that negligence contributed to the crash.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s public prosecutor launched an investigation to determine what caused the collision.

Prosecutors ordered a specialized technical committee to inspect the damaged trains, railway tracks and operating procedures.

The committee will examine whether safety failures or operational problems contributed to the accident.

Authorities have not yet announced a final determination of the cause.

Railway services disrupted

The collision disrupted train operations along the affected railway line.

The Egyptian National Railways Authority deployed emergency teams and equipment to remove damaged carriages and restore services.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry arranged buses for passengers travelling through affected sections of the railway network.

Officials also began coordinating assistance for victims and their families.

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority directed the railway accident insurance pool to speed up compensation procedures.

The authority increased compensation for deaths and permanent total disability from 30,000 to 50,000 Egyptian pounds.

Crash renews concerns over railway safety

The collision has renewed attention on railway safety in Egypt, which has experienced several serious train accidents over the years.

In September 2026, two freight trains collided in the same El-Ayyat district. The crash injured a driver and his assistant.

Egypt also experienced one of its deadliest railway disasters in 2002, when a fire aboard a passenger train killed hundreds of people.

The government has since invested heavily in modernizing railway infrastructure and improving safety systems.

According to Egypt’s official statistics agency, the country recorded 170 train accidents in 2025, down from 220 in 2024.

Investigators are examining the circumstances of the latest collision, including the movement of both trains and compliance with railway safety procedures.