Death toll in Egypt’s Qalyoub train crash rises to 4

CAIRO – 8 March 2023: Death toll in a train crash that took place in Greater Cairo’s Qalyoub city has risen to four, Ministry of Health said in a statement early on Wednesday.

A total of 23 people has also been injured in the crash, the ministry said, noting that 11 of the injured were able to leave hospital after receiving the required medical service and as their health condition has stabilized.

Health authorities had moved 18 of the injured to Qalyoub Specialized Hospital while three others were moved to El-Qanater El-Khaireya Central Hospital and two were moved to Nasser Institute Hospital in Cairo.

Circumstances of the crash

A passenger train derailed late on Tuesday after crashing into the buffer stops at Qalyuob railway station with further circumstances of the accident still not known.

The Egyptian National Railways (ENR) issued a statement noting that the injured passengers were riding between railcars in the train that was traveling from Shubra to Kafr El-Zayat in Gharbia governorate.

The ENR said the crash took place at 7:20 PM and happened as the train exceeded the semaphore and crashed into the buffer stops, causing it to derail.

Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir ordered the formation of a committee in order to evaluate the damage and find those to be blamed for the crash.

The Public Prosecution announced launching a probe into the crash.

LE 100K compensation for victims

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj ordered paying an LE 100,000 compensation for families of the victims who have died or became totally disabled in the crash.

Qabbaj also ordered including the families of the victims in all forms of social care and noted that the ministry is coordinating with NGOs to provide further support to the families.