Egyptian lawmakers summon transport minister after deadly train collision

Egypt's parliament has summoned the transport minister for an emergency session following a deadly train collision that killed seven people and injured over 100 south of Cairo. The House of Representatives' Transport and Communications Committee will question Minister Kamel El-Wazir on Tuesday. The committee's chairman, Wahid Qorqar, approved the request for the meeting. The crash occurred on Sunday in Ayyat, a district in Giza Province.

The train collision involved a train bound for Fayoum that struck the rear of a train heading to Aswan. Investigators found the Aswan-bound train was stopped on the same track, and several carriages derailed. Egyptian National Railways identified the trains as Nos. 134 and 2010. The incident has prompted a thorough investigation, with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi ordering an urgent inquiry.

The death toll from the collision climbed through the weekend, with early counts reporting four dead and 88 injured. The Health Ministry later confirmed seven fatalities and 125 injuries. The driver of the Fayoum-bound train was among those killed. The Public Prosecution is examining the technical causes of the crash, and the Administrative Prosecution is also reviewing the episode.

This is not the first major rail incident in Ayyat. In 2002, a fire killed over 360 people in what remains Egypt's worst rail disaster. More recently, in September, two freight trains collided in the same district, injuring a driver and his assistant. The area's history of rail incidents raises concerns about safety and infrastructure.

In response to the latest incident, the Transport Ministry has arranged for buses to carry passengers between nearby stations until rail service resumes. The ministry is likely to face scrutiny for its safety measures and emergency response. The summoning of Minister Kamel El-Wazir reflects parliament's efforts to hold the government accountable.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has emphasized that anyone found negligent will be held accountable. The investigation is ongoing, with multiple agencies involved. The incident has sparked widespread concern about rail safety in Egypt and the need for improved infrastructure and safety measures.

The Egyptian government faces pressure to address the country's rail safety record and prevent future incidents. The transport minister's appearance before parliament is expected to shed light on the government's plans to improve safety and prevent similar tragedies. Key stakeholders will be watching closely for reassurances and concrete actions.

Key points

• Egypt's parliament summons transport minister for answers after deadly train collision kills 7 and injures over 100.
• The incident has prompted an urgent inquiry and multiple investigations into the technical causes of the crash.
• The area where the crash occurred has a history of rail incidents, including Egypt's worst rail disaster in 2002.