El-Sissi orders probe after Giza train collision kills four

Residents in the al-Ayyat district of Giza province faced a disruption to daily travel on Sunday after a train collision blocked the line roughly 32 miles south of Cairo. The accident stopped traffic on a key corridor linking the capital to southern provinces. Emergency crews worked through the day to clear the tracks and move patients.

The Transportation Ministry reported that a train heading toward Fayoum province struck the rear of another train traveling to Aswan. One of the two vehicles left the tracks during the impact, though officials did not specify which one. The Health Ministry confirmed that four people died in the crash. Among the fatalities was a train driver. A total of 88 passengers and crew members were injured. Hospitals in the area received all the wounded for treatment.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi reacted to the incident on social media. He expressed concern for the victims and their families. In his post, he directed state agencies to ensure the injured received medical care. He ordered a prompt investigation into the circumstances of the accident. The president stated that anyone found negligent would be held accountable.

The Egyptian Railway Authority dispatched emergency teams and cranes to the scene immediately after the collision. Their primary goal is to remove wreckage from the tracks. Crews are currently assessing the damage to the line. Services remain suspended in the region while safety checks are completed.

This crash is the second major incident in the al-Ayyat district in recent months. In September, two freight trains collided in the same area. That earlier accident injured a driver and his assistant but resulted in no deaths. The recurrence of a collision in this specific location has drawn attention to local safety protocols.

Egypt has spent billions of dollars modernizing its transport infrastructure over the past decade. These investments include new highways and high-speed rail lines. However, the older rail network has not received a complete overhaul. Many sections of the traditional system still use aging equipment. The current accident occurs against this backdrop of mixed infrastructure ages.

Medical teams have treated the 88 injured passengers. Initial assessments at local hospitals indicate that many of the wounded are in stable condition. The railway system continues to serve as a vital part of the country's public transport. It connects major cities and provinces. Officials plan to release further details on the cause of the crash as the investigation proceeds.