Three killed and dozens injured in train derailment in Egypt
Details are scarce as the cause of the accident is under investigation
At least three people were killed and dozens more injured on Wednesday after a train derailed in the Upper Egypt governorate of Minya, officials said. The train was traveling from the southern city of Aswan to the capital, Cairo, when the accident occurred at around 6:30 am local time near the town of Abu Qurqas.
The head of the health department in Minya, Mohamad Hassan, confirmed the death toll and said at least 87 people were injured, while the train's driver and assistant engineer were among the injured. Hassan said a number of ambulances were sent to the site to transport the injured to hospitals in Minya and Abu Qurqas.
Ahmed Moslamany, the head of the railways authority, said an emergency committee had been formed to investigate the cause of the derailment. Moslamany said the train's black box would be examined as part of the investigation. Initial reports suggested that the train had been speeding.
Violent accidents on Egypt's railways occur regularly due to poorly maintained equipment and overworked staff.
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