At Least 58 Killed, 140 Injured When Trains Collide in Egypt
One commuter train ignored a stop signal and slammed into another Monday, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 140, authorities said.
The crash took place at the edge of a cornfield outside the town of Qalyoub, 12 miles north of Cairo. One train was carrying commuters from the town of Mansoura, the other from Benha.
Passenger Nasser Gafaar, 37, said it was difficult to escape the wreckage after his train car overturned.
“Flames from the other train were spreading. I fainted as soon as I managed to get out of the train,” said Gafaar, who had cuts on his head and bruises on his leg.
The Mansoura train was going at least 50 mph when it sped through the stop signal before a crossing, police officials said.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give statements to the media.
The Mansoura train’s driver was killed, and its locomotive overturned when it struck the other train, police said.
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