Justice Sought as Train Fire Probe Begins
As investigators tried to uncover the cause of a fire that turned a train into an inferno, a growing number of voices Thursday demanded punishment for those to blame for Egypt’s worst train disaster and criticized the government for negligence.
The death toll was 363 in the Wednesday disaster, and a team of 70 government investigators and coroners led by Egypt’s top prosecutor began its inquiry into the cause, interviewing the driver, railway engineers, ticket conductors and other witnesses.
The train’s conductors and engineer defended their response, saying they had done all they could to stop the burning train and fight the fire.
Prosecutor General Maher Abdel Wahid said his investigators would look not only into the causes of the blaze but also into “those who were behind” the disaster.
Demands for punishment of officials and an overhaul of the rail system grew more feverish.
“Put those responsible on trial, whoever they are,” the opposition newspaper Al-Wafd wrote.
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