Two passenger trains collided in Egypt’s Nile Delta on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least three people, including two children, according to authorities. The tragic incident occurred in the city of Zagazig, the capital of Sharqiya province, as stated by the country’s railway authority. Egypt’s Health Ministry reported that the collision also left at least 40 others injured.
Train derailments and collisions are frequent in Egypt, where an aging railway system suffers from chronic mismanagement. Recognizing the urgent need for improvement, the government has announced several initiatives in recent years to modernize the railways. In 2018, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi emphasized the magnitude of the problem, estimating that approximately 250 billion Egyptian pounds, or $8.13 billion, would be necessary to comprehensively overhaul the country’s neglected rail network.
Video footage captured at the crash site shows the devastating aftermath: a crumpled train car surrounded by crowds, with men desperately attempting to rescue the injured through the windows of a passenger car. This incident follows another tragic accident that took place just last month, when a train collided with a truck crossing the tracks in the Mediterranean province of Alexandria, resulting in two fatalities.
The repeated incidents underscore the urgency of upgrading Egypt’s railway infrastructure to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of its passengers.