70 injured after train derails in southern Egypt

By Mahmoud Ghareb

CAIRO

At least 70 people were injured Thursday when a Cairo-bound train derailed in southern Egypt, an Egyptian health ministry official told Anadolu Agency.

The accident occurred when the train hit a cement wall in the southern province of Beni Suief, causing two of its cars to overturn, Gamal al-Gouhari said.

Beni Suief security chief Mahmoud al-Ashri said the train driver was detained.

"Initial investigations show that the driver was the main cause of the accident," he added.

Last month, at least six people were killed when a train collided with a car near Cairo.

Seven children were also killed last year when a train rammed into a school bus in the Nile Delta.