Second train crash in a month in Egypt, 20 injured

A train crash in southern Egypt on Sunday has left several people injured, marking the second such incident in less than a month. The collision occurred in Minya province , located approximately 270 kilometres south of Cairo , when a locomotive crashed into the rear of a Cairo-bound passenger train . Two carriages were derailed, plunging into an adjacent watercourse. Local media footage showed the carriages partially submerged.

Egypt's health ministry confirmed that at least 20 people were hospitalised following the accident. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with authorities yet to determine whether human error or mechanical failure played a role.

This latest tragedy comes on the heels of a devastating crash in the Nile Delta last month. In mid-September, two passenger trains collided in Zagazig, resulting in the deaths of at least three people, including two children, and injuring 49 others. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, with 30 ambulances dispatched to transport the injured. The crash caused severe damage to the trains, with images showing crumpled carriages and rescue workers extracting passengers through smashed windows.

Egypt's ageing rail network has long been plagued by safety issues, compounded by mismanagement and insufficient maintenance. In 2018, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi acknowledged the need for substantial investment, announcing plans to spend $8.13 billion to overhaul the country’s railway system.