Five killed As Truck Struck By Train At Railway Crossing In Egypt

By Bimbo Ogunnaike with agency report

Egyptian Railways Authority  has confirmed that no fewer than five people were killed and four others wounded on Tuesday after a train crashed into a small truck at a railway crossing in Upper Luxor province of the country.

The authority, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said he crash took place while the vehicle was crossing the Karnak railway crossing in the Badran region in Luxor.

The truck was carrying passengers, it said, without giving more details on the casualties.

The authority pointed out that it had closed the illegal crossing point more than once but local residents reopened it in violation of the law.

Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel Wazir ordered investigation into the crash.

Railway accidents are common in Egypt due to negligence and poor maintenance. The railway system is largely operated manually.