A tragic train derailment in Egypt has claimed the lives of three people and left at least 103 others injured, according to the country’s health ministry. The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon when a passenger train traveling from the northern coastal city of Marsa Matruh to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, veered off its tracks around 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT). Seven carriages came off the railway line, with two carriages overturning completely, causing widespread panic and chaos among passengers.
Authorities confirmed that the derailment happened between Fouka and Jalal stations, located just east of Marsa Matruh on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, where dozens of ambulances and medical teams worked tirelessly to rescue passengers and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. The Egyptian health ministry confirmed that all injured victims were taken to two local hospitals, while the bodies of the three deceased victims have been placed under the custody of public prosecutors.
Egypt’s Health Minister, Dr. Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, personally visited the site of the derailment to oversee the emergency response. He also offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured victims a quick recovery. Later, the minister visited hospitals to check on the victims’ conditions, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing immediate medical support.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport and the Egyptian National Railways Authority (ENRA) announced that a high-level investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the disaster. Officials stated that any individuals or entities found responsible for negligence or safety failures would face strict punishment. Technical teams and heavy equipment have already been deployed to clear the wreckage and restore railway services as quickly as possible.
Train accidents in Egypt are unfortunately not uncommon, largely due to outdated infrastructure, poor maintenance, and underinvestment in the railway system. According to past reports, Egypt’s railway network one of the oldest in the world has been plagued by safety issues for decades. The country has witnessed multiple train disasters, including the infamous 2002 tragedy south of Cairo, where more than 370 people were killed after a fire broke out inside a crowded passenger train.
This latest derailment highlights the urgent need for significant reforms and investment in Egypt’s transportation infrastructure. Safety experts have long called for modernization of the railway system, citing frequent accidents that continue to put lives at risk.
As Egypt mourns the loss of lives in this most recent tragedy, families of victims are demanding accountability, while survivors recount the terrifying moments when the train suddenly jolted off the tracks. Many passengers described scenes of chaos, with people trapped inside overturned carriages, waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
The incident has sparked fresh debates on railway safety and government accountability in Egypt. Citizens are once again urging authorities to take immediate and long-term measures to improve railway operations, enhance safety protocols, and prevent such devastating accidents in the future.
For now, the nation grieves for the three lives lost in this horrific crash while over 100 families hope and pray for the speedy recovery of their loved ones still battling injuries in hospital wards.
Leave a comment