Train Derailment in Egypt Leaves At Least 3 Dead, Nearly 100 Injured
LUXOR, Egypt – A train derailed near teh city of Luxor in Egypt on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and injuries to approximately 98 others, according to reports from the Ministry of Health. Emergency services responded to the scene with thirty ambulances to provide medical assistance. The Egyptian railway company has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
The derailment underscores longstanding issues with Egypt’s aging rail infrastructure and a history of accidents linked to insufficient maintenance and mismanagement.While the government has announced substantial investment plans to modernize the network – including over 7 billion euros pledged by President Sissi in 2018 – the country continues to grapple with a system operating at one of the highest traffic densities globally.
Egypt’s rail network is the oldest in Africa,established as the first on the continent. However, frequent train distributions and accidents point to systemic problems. Last year, the Middle East Monitor reported that a lack of maintenance creates hazardous conditions for passengers. the World Bank, which recently loaned Egypt over 720 million euros in late 2023 for railway improvements, noted in November that the network suffers from critical shortcomings in both passenger safety and freight transport capacity.
