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Deadly train collision in Egypt kills at least 20

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  • Member since
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Deadly train collision in Egypt kills at least 20
Posted by Lyon_Wonder on Saturday, October 24, 2009 11:39 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8324269.stm

At least 20 people have been killed when a passenger train smashed into the back of another train near the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

The collision left at least 50 people injured, officials said.

Rescue staff were working through the night to pull victims from the wreckage. Some people were said to be trapped under an overturned carriage.

The collision occurred at Al-Ayyat in Giza, 50km (31 miles) south of Cairo, according to a security official.

The official was quoted by AFP news agency saying the trains were on the same track, heading south of the capital.

The accident happened when one of the trains unexpectedly stopped and the second train hit it from behind, he was quoted as saying.

'Deafening screech'

Eyewitnesses described how the first train made the unplanned stop after hitting an animal.

One eyewitness, named only as Mohammed, said: "The train hit a water buffalo. The gas pipeline broke, and the train stalled. The other one came from behind quickly and hit it.

"The people at the doors all fell, and people fell beneath the train tread."

Resident, Samhi Saleh Abdel Al, told AFP: "I was sat near the road... when I heard a deafening screeching, then shouts and I saw passengers jumping from the train".

Egypt rail network has a long history of rail accidents.

The most deadly occurred at Al-Ayyat in 2002, when a train fire left more than 370 people dead.

More recently, dozens were killed when a train crashed into vehicles at a level crossing north-west of Cairo in July 2008, and more than 50 died when two commuter trains collided near the capital in August 2006.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Sunday, October 25, 2009 2:28 AM

Remind me not to ride the train if I ever go to Egypt.

(I'm more likely to go to the Moon than to Egypt.)

Chuck

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