Arab, world leaders extend condolences to Egypt over deadly train crash in Cairo
Ahram Online, , Thursday 28 Feb 2019


A number of Arab and world leaders have extended their condolences to the Egyptian people and government over the deadly train crash in a Cairo railway station on Wednesday that killed 20 people and injured 43 others.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz has has extended condolences to Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, conveying his sympathy to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

The leaders of Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, and the UAE also expressed condolences and solidarity with the Egyptian people and government.

In a letter to President El-Sisi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow shares with the Egyptian people and the families of the victims their grief and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

A statement by the Turkish foreign ministry also extended condolences to the Egyptian people.

The French foreign minister, as well as the Dutch, German and British embassies in Egypt, also extended condolences to the victims of their families.

At least 20 people were killed and 43 others were injured when a blaze broke out in Cairo's Ramses Railway Station early Wednesday.

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly accepted the resignation of Minister of Transportation Hisham Arafat after the accident on Wednesday.

CCTV video circulated online shows that a locomotive was left unattended at a train yard after its driver jumped out to speak with the conductor of another train that crashed into the first locomotive. The locomotive then sped off towards the railway station as its motor was left running when it was abandoned by the driver.

Shortly after the accident, President El-Sisi said he has instructed the government to hold those responsible accountable for the crash after conducting the necessary investigations.

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