Five killed as Egypt train carrying troops derails: ministry

A train carrying military conscripts derailed southwest of Cairo today, killing 19 people and wounding 107, the health ministry said, highlighting the country’s chronic transport problems. The train was taking young recruits from south Egypt to a military camp in Cairo when two carriages went off the rails shortly after midnight in the Giza neighbourhood of Badrasheen, officials said. More than 60 ambulances were sent to the site of the accident, where rescuers were working to extract survivors and bodies from the twisted heap of metal on the side of the rails. Prime Minister Hesham Qandeel was met with howls of outrage when he arrived at the scene, with local residents shouting, ‘You have blood on your hands, Mr. Hesham.’ His security quickly whisked him away again. The injured have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, the health ministry said. The accident is the latest in a string of transport disasters plaguing the country, and comes just two weeks after a new transport minister was appointed.