World Leaders offer condolences to Egypt for victims of Sohag train collision

CAIRO – 27 March 2021: World leaders expressed their sincere condolences to Egypt after a collision of two trains in Upper Egypt’s governorate of Sohag that left 32 dead and 108 injured on Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, wishing speedy recovery to the wounded, the Kremlin said.

President Abdel Fattah el Sisi received condolences in a telephone call he got on Saturday from Tunisian President Kais Saied.

During the telephone contact, the Tunisian leader expressed his sympathies over the death of Sohag train passengers and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

President Sisi thanked president Saied for his condolences, voicing appreciation of Tunisia's solidarity with Egypt at this difficult time and asserting that its support reflected the feelings of fraternity and the strong ties between the two countries

Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy for the victims of the Sohag train accident, affirming the solidarity of the government and people of Jordan with Egypt in this painful circumstance, and “praying to God Almighty to bless the victims with the breadth of his mercy and dwell in his spaciousness, and to inspire their families with patience and solace.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday cabled President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, expressing his sincerest condolences and solace over deaths inflicted in train accident in Sohag, WAFA reported.

Abbas offered condolences to the families of the deceased, wishing speedy recovery for the injured.

Condolences were offered from different countries including: Lebanon, Libya and Turkey.

British Ambassador Geoffrey Adams offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of a deadly train accident in southern Egypt.

“Very sad to hear of the tragic train collision in Sohag today. My sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected," Adams said in a tweet.

The U.S. embassy also expressed its condolences through their official account on Twitter, wishing speed recovery for the injured.  

What happened?

Authorities initially think that the accident was caused after unknown passengers pulled the emergency valve of a Luxor-Alexandria train leading it to stop and get smashed by an Aswan-Cairo train from behind. The collision led to overturning of 2 passenger carriages and a locomotive, according to a statement from the Egyptian Railway.

The Ministry of Health increased the number of the ambulance to 74 to transport the victims to the hospitals, adding that all hospitals in Sohag have enough stock of blood bags, with additional 3,000 bags.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said a “deterrent punishment” will be inflicted on whoever caused by any means the “tragic” train collision in Sohag to take place.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Hamada El Sawi headed to the site of the incident for investigations, calling on all parties not to publish any data about the accidents for the sake of investigation process.

A technical committee has been formed by the Egyptian Railway Authority to follow up on the situation and investigate into the accident, the authority said, noting that it is following up on the situation to resume the train traffic as soon as possible.