Fire kills 25 at Cairo’s main train station

CAIRO (AA): At least 25 people were killed in a fire that erupted at Cairo’s main train station on Wednesday, according to the state-run television. Photos on social media showed a cloud of smoke rising from the Ramses train station in central Cairo. Local media said the fire was caused by a fuel tank explosion after a train collided with a safety barrier as a large number of passengers were waiting to pick up their train.

The explosion caused a huge fire, according to the same sources. The Egyptian television said 25 people were killed and 50 others injured in the accident. Egypt’s National Railway Authority, for its part, confirmed the accident, saying several people were killed and injured but without giving an exact toll.

In a statement, the authority said the fire broke out after a train derailed and collided with a concrete barrier at the station, without giving further details. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli visited the station and vowed to bring those responsible for the accident to accountability. Egypt’s attorney-general has also ordered an investigation into the incident. Egypt’s railway system has a poor safety record due to poor management and lack of investment. In 2002, more than 350 people were killed when a fire ripped through a passenger train near Cairo.