Egypt train collision leaves four dead as injury estimates continue to shift

Egypt train collision leaves four dead as injury estimates continue to shift
Two passenger trains collided near the village of Gerza in Egypt’s Giza governorate, in the Al-Ayat area south of Cairo. The crash occurred when a train traveling from Giza toward Fayoum struck the rear of another service running from Cairo to Aswan, according to initial reports. Four carriages derailed, and rail traffic in the area was suspended.

Egypt’s Health Ministry initially reported that 64 people were injured and did not immediately confirm any deaths. Emergency teams, cranes and ambulances were sent to the scene, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

As the rescue operation continued, casualty estimates increased. Reports said at least 120 people had been injured, with some Egyptian media putting the number above 150. The emergency response was expanded from 20 ambulances to 50 as the scale of the crash became clearer. The train driver was also reported dead.

A later account citing Egypt’s Health Ministry put the toll at four dead and 88 injured, underscoring the conflicting figures emerging during the response. The dead included the driver, according to earlier reporting. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said he was following the crash “with great concern” and ordered an urgent investigation, calling for accountability for anyone found negligent.

Prosecutors ordered police to inspect the scene, question witnesses and interview injured passengers. Investigators are examining whether a derailment preceded the collision or resulted from it, while the cause—whether technical failure, human error or another factor—has not been established. Cranes and civil-defense teams continued removing the derailed carriages before the line could reopen.