3 Dead, Over 100 Injured After Several Train Cars Flip and Derail — and a Cause of the Crash Remains Unknown

Three people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in a train crash that left at least two cars completely overturned.

The train was traveling from Marsa Matruh, a port city in northwestern Egypt, to Cairo on Saturday, Aug. 30, when the accident happened, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) shared on Facebook.

In the crash, two cars overturned and seven others went off the tracks. The MOHP confirmed three deaths in its first announcement, originally written in Arabic.

The number of injured passengers kept rising throughout the day. The MOHP said 37 ambulances were sent to the scene.

Hours later, the ministry posted another update on Facebook, saying the number of injured had increased from 54 to 94. That total eventually reached 103. MOHP spokesperson Dr. Hossam Abdel-Ghafar explained that three patients were in intensive care, while 87 others had already been discharged after treatment. Sixteen more remained in the hospital under observation but were stable.

Injuries ranged from broken bones to cuts and bruises, officials said.

Health Minister Dr. Khaled Abdul Ghaffar and other officials visited Hyena and Ras Al-Hakma hospitals, where victims were taken. The MOHP expressed condolences to the families and said medical teams were making sure patients received the blood and care they needed.

After the accident, crowds gathered at the site as two cranes were brought in to lift one of the overturned cars, according to images shared by the MOHP and video obtained by Extra News.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The transport ministry and the Egyptian National Railways Authority are investigating, according to the BBC.

Accidents like this are not rare in Egypt’s railway system, the BBC noted, pointing to issues such as poor maintenance and lack of investment.