At least eight people died, and 12 others were injured when a passenger train collided with a minibus at an unauthorized railway crossing in Egypt’s Ismailia province on Thursday, officials said. The Egyptian Health Ministry confirmed the crash occurred in the Suez Canal province.
Over a dozen ambulances rushed to the scene, and paramedics transported the injured to East Qantara Central Hospital. One child remains in critical condition.
According to the Egyptian National Railways (ENR), the train was on its scheduled route when the minibus attempted to cross at a non-designated point. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, raising concerns over railway safety and unauthorized crossings.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced financial aid of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,970) for each victim’s family.
Government media offices shared images from the scene, showing a mangled red minibus with school bags and notebooks scattered around, suggesting children were among the victims.
Railway accidents remain common in Egypt, often linked to outdated infrastructure and poor management. In October, a locomotive crashed into the back of a Cairo-bound train, killing one person. A month earlier, two passenger trains collided in the Nile Delta, leaving at least three dead.
Despite efforts to modernize the railway system, deadly accidents persist. In 2018, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi stated that Egypt needed 250 billion Egyptian pounds ($8.13 billion) to upgrade the rail network. However, repeated tragedies highlight the urgent need for stronger safety measures and stricter enforcement of railway regulations.