Security arrests driver of crashed locomotive, investigation continues

CAIRO – 27 February 2019: Security authorities arrested on Wednesday the driver of train locomotive no. 2302 that crashed into a platform at Cairo’s main railway station in Ramsis and caused an explosion that reaped the lives of dozens of citizens and injured others.

At least 20 people were announced dead and 40 others injured as the train locomotive crashed into a buffer stop at platform no. 6 at the station.

Furthermore, Egypt's Transport Minister Hisham Arafat submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli on the background of the accident.

Railway authorities announced early on Wednesday that a rail-car rammed into a buffer stop inside the station causing an explosion of the fuel tank and triggering a huge blaze.

Heavy black smoke was seen billowing from the building in central Cairo.

Immediately, security forces completely halted all movement and closed off the site with ambulances and firefighters nearby to control the situation and transfer the injured to the nearest hospitals.