Two people were killed and 22 others were injured in a train collision on Sunday morning in front of Maqousa village in Minya Governorate, Upper Egypt.
Civil Defense Forces, maintenance and rescue units, and heavy cranes from the Egyptian National Railways recovered the power car of the sleeper train, which had fallen into Ibrahimiya Canal opposite the village of Maqousa following the collision.
The passenger coach had been recovered earlier.
River Rescue Forces rush to the scene
River Rescue Rorces recovered a body on Sunday evening, bringing the number of confirmed deaths to two thus far.
The Minya Security Directorate received a notification on the accident, and immediately security services, civil defense vehicles, and ambulances rushed to the scene.
Egyptian National Railways Authority issues statement
The Egyptian National Railways Authority said that the accident was caused by an engine colliding with the rear of the sleeper train coming from Aswan towards Cairo, between Abu-Qurqas and Minya.
Immediately, emergency equipment and cranes were dispatched, and the train was detached from the two cars and continued its journey towards Cairo.
Minster of Transport responds
The Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel al-Wazir, assigned both the Deputy Minister of Transport for Railways and Electric Traction, and the Chairman of the ENR, to head to the accident site, and form a committee of railway specialists to determine the technical causes that led to the accident.
Investigations continue
The Minya Public Prosecution office continued its investigations into the incident and authorized the burial of the bodies after identification by their family.
The Minya Health Directorate announced the discharge of 19 injured people from hospitals after receiving emergency first aid, as the injuries ranged from abrasions, wounds and bruises without serious injuries.
Surgery was performed on an injured person in the shoulder.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
