Egypt orders arrest of eight workers after deadly train collision

The number of victims has been revised down to 18

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  People gather around the wreckage of two trains that collided in the Tahta district of Sohag province, some 460 kilometres (285 miles) south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, reportedly killing at least 32 people and injuring scores of others. AFP

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  People gather around the wreckage of two trains that collided in the Tahta district of Sohag province, some 460 kms (285 miles) south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP

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  This image provided by Youm7 shows crowds of people inside a mangled train carriage at the scene of a train accident in southern Egypt. AP Photo

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  This image provided by Youm7 shows crowds of people gathered around mangled train carriages at the scene of a train accident in southern Egypt. AP Photo

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  People gather around the wreckage of two trains that collided in the Tahta district of Sohag province, some 460 kilometres (285 miles) south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP

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  People stand atop a turned over train carriage as others inspect the scene of a train crash in Sohag province. EPA

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  People stand atop a turned over train carriage as others inspect the scene of a train crash in Sohag province. EPA

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  A blanket covers a victim surrounded by people inspecting the scene of a train crash in Sohag province. EPA

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  People inspect the scene of a train crash in Sohag province. EPA

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  People inspect the scene of a train crash in Sohag province. EPA

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  People inspect the scene of a train crash in Sohag province. EPA

Egypt's chief prosecutor on Monday ordered the arrest of eight railway employees, including two train drivers, for their alleged roles in a train crash that killed 18 people in the country's south.

Two passenger trains collided on Friday in the province of Sohag, about 440 kilometres south of Cairo. It was the latest in a series of railway accidents that have rocked the country in recent years.

The supervisor at the control tower near the site of the crash and the railway’s regional control chief for the neighbouring Assiut province were among those detained.

Prosecutor Hamada El Sawy revised downward the number killed to 18 and 200 injured.

On Saturday, Health Minister Hala Zayed told a news conference that at least 19 people were killed and 185 injured. That number was down from the 32 deaths initially announced on Friday.

The Health Ministry and the state-owned Railway Authority said the accident was caused by an emergency brake being triggered on the first train, causing it to come to an abrupt halt. A train approaching from behind collided with it.

A statement said the arrests followed an initial investigation in which prosecutors questioned 133 survivors, 10 regional railway officials and three members of the transport police force.

Train accidents are not uncommon in Egypt, where the rail network is stretched and the signal system is antiquated.

Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir said after the crash that 225 billion pounds ($14.32bn) had been set aside to upgrade the railway service, of which nearly 50 billion pounds would go towards overhauling the signalling system.

Friday’s crash was the deadliest rail accident since February 2019, when an engine car laden with fuel slammed into a wall at Cairo’s main train station, igniting a fire that killed at least 20 people and injured scores more.

In 2017, two passenger trains collided in northern Egypt, killing at least 41 people and injuring more than 120.

In 2002, more than 300 people were killed after a fire broke out in a train traveling from Cairo to southern Egypt.