The most extensive railway catastrophe in Egypt's history occurred near this location in 2002.
Two passenger trains collided in Egypt. At least seven people died and 112 were injured, authorities report, according to the BBC.
The catastrophe occurred 76 km south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. According to the Egyptian railway authority, a train traveling from Giza to Al-Fayoum collided from behind with the Cairo-Aswan train.
Rescuers continue to dismantle the wreckage of crumpled and derailed carriages.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health informed journalists that 72 ambulance vehicles arrived at the scene of the catastrophe.
Authorities reported that hospitals in the catastrophe area have been placed on high alert due to the mass influx of patients.
Egypt's Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, stated that many of the injured sustained fractures and head injuries.
According to the Ministry of Health, among those killed in the collision was the driver of one of the trains.
The causes of the catastrophe have not yet been determined.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi issued a statement via Facebook, announcing that he had ordered an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy.
As reported by the Egyptian newspaper Youm7, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and promised them support, also wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Train traffic on the section south of Giza has been suspended. Heavy machinery has been dispatched to the scene to clear the damaged trains.
The collision occurred on the stretch between Kafr Ammar and Er-Raqqa stations in the Al-Ayat area — near the location where the most extensive railway catastrophe in Egypt's history took place in February 2002: back then, a fire broke out on a passenger train traveling from Cairo to Luxor.
After this, the train traveled approximately another nine kilometers before stopping.
In that catastrophe, according to official data, more than 370 people died, although, according to some estimates, the number of victims was significantly higher.
Two other accidents that occurred in the same area in 2009 claimed dozens of lives.
Calls are already being made in Egypt for the Minister of Transport to resign in connection with another railway catastrophe.
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