For the third time in less than a month, Egypt is witnessing a new tragedy due to a train accident that killed 11 people and left about 98 injured, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Health.

Egyptian media reported the resignation of the head of the Railways Authority after the train accident, which occurred near the city of Toukh in Qalyubia Governorate (north of Cairo).

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assigned Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to form a committee to find out the causes of the accident that occurred on Sunday.

"We will hold all those responsible for the accident to account, and we will not run away from bearing responsibility, and we will work day and night to develop the railway system," said Egyptian Minister of Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, while inspecting the site of the accident.

Egyptian media reported that the number of victims of a train accident in Toukh has risen to 16, and added, citing informed sources, that preliminary investigations indicate that the high speed of the train is the cause of the accident in the area that is undergoing repairs.

Condolences

Turkey and Arab countries offered their condolences to Egypt over the Toukh train accident.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry offered condolences to "the friendly and brotherly people of Egypt, as well as to the relatives of those who lost their lives."

The Qatar News Agency reported that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, sent a message of condolence to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, for the victims of the passenger train accident in Qalyubia Governorate, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow over the train accident and the resulting casualties, offering condolences to the families of the victims and to the Egyptian leadership, government and people.

In a phone call, Tunisian President Kais Said offered condolences to his Egyptian counterpart for the victims of the train accident.

In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry stated that it expresses special condolences and sincere condolences to the government and people of Egypt for the victims of the accident.

The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, also sent a cable of condolences and sympathy to the Egyptian President, regarding the victims of the train accident, according to what was reported by the country's official news agency.

The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Uthaimin, also expressed his sincere condolences and condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the government of Egypt in the Toukh train accident.

"Please send us an ambulance" ... Dispensation to save the injured after a train derailed in # Qalyubia pic.twitter.com/eBXhKRaF0D

- Al Jazeera Egypt (@AJA_Egypt) April 18, 2021

Accident details

In the details of the accident, the Egyptian Railways Authority said, in a brief statement, that the train was on its way from Cairo to the city of Mansoura in the Delta, and derailed yesterday, Sunday at 13:54 local time (11:54 GMT), about 40 km away. Kilometers north of Cairo.

Egyptian media reported that the train driver and 8 transport officials were detained in the vicinity of the site of the accident, which caused trains to stop in Lower Egypt governorates.

The official page of the Egyptian governorate of Qalyubia on Facebook confirmed that 8 cars of the train were derailed, and the authorities have not yet clarified the causes of the accident.

A number of social media users had published a video, which they said was a train overturning between Toukh and Banha in Qalyubia Governorate.

Urgent |

Panic and panic at the first moments of a train collapse near Tookh station in Qalyubia pic.twitter.com/b6OQCgpz88

- Al Jazeera Egypt (@AJA_Egypt) April 18, 2021

The private "Al-Shorouk" newspaper reported, according to well-informed sources (which it did not name), that "preliminary investigations of the accident revealed that the train was traveling at a great speed of about 120 kilometers per hour, while passing through a rugged repair area that is supposed to travel at a speed not exceeding 30 kilometers per hour." the clock".

The same sources indicated that the train driver and his assistant did not receive an official order to slow down the speed in that area, which led to the cars derailing the tracks, the train overturned, and casualties and injuries.

The accident is the third of its kind in less than a month in Egypt, as two train cars derailed their lanes on April 15 near the city of Minya Qamh, north of Cairo, which resulted in the injury of 15 people.

On March 26, the governorate of Sohag (south) also witnessed a collision of two passenger trains, which resulted in 32 deaths and 165 injuries, according to an official statistic.

Egyptians on social media are calling on the Minister of Transport, Kamel al-Wazir, to resign.

The minister rejected the claims, and pledged to continue work on developing the obsolete railway network

In May 2018, the Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics in Egypt (official) announced in a statement that the main cause of train collision accidents is the human element, reaching 78.9%, followed by defects in vehicles and road conditions.