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| Deadly train collision in Egypt | Deadly train collision in Egypt |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Rescuers using heavy lifting equipment have untangled the wreckage of two passenger trains which crashed near Cairo, killing at least 18 people. | Rescuers using heavy lifting equipment have untangled the wreckage of two passenger trains which crashed near Cairo, killing at least 18 people. |
| Officials said at least 50 people were also injured. | Officials said at least 50 people were also injured. |
| The trains collided at Al-Ayyat in Giza, 50km (31 miles) south of the Egyptian capital. | The trains collided at Al-Ayyat in Giza, 50km (31 miles) south of the Egyptian capital. |
| The accident happened when a train heading to Fayoum stopped after apparently hitting an animal, and a second train went into the back of it. | The accident happened when a train heading to Fayoum stopped after apparently hitting an animal, and a second train went into the back of it. |
| The second train, destined for Assiut in upper Egypt, badly damaged its front carriages on impact, crushing the rear carriages of the train in front. | The second train, destined for Assiut in upper Egypt, badly damaged its front carriages on impact, crushing the rear carriages of the train in front. |
| The military was brought in to help emergency services work through the night searching for bodies and injured passengers. | The military was brought in to help emergency services work through the night searching for bodies and injured passengers. |
| Subsequent pictures from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the two trains moved from the track by heavy lifting machinery. | Subsequent pictures from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the two trains moved from the track by heavy lifting machinery. |
| 'Deafening screech' | 'Deafening screech' |
| Eyewitnesses described how the first train made the unplanned stop after hitting an animal. | 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. | 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." | "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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |