Passenger Train Crashes In North Egypt

An Egyptian passenger train has derailed and caught fire south of Cairo, causing an unknown number of casualties.

Authorities say at least 15 people were hurt, but there are no confirmed deaths at this stage.

Early reports suggested that "many" people died in the crash in the Giza neighbourhood of Badrashin.

Five of the carriages overturned in the accident.

The train was coming from the town of Sohag, 500 kilometres south of Cairo.

The Egyptian railway system's poor safety record has long been blamed on badly maintained equipment and poor management.

Egypt's worst railway disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.

In August 2006, a passenger train heading towards a station collided with a second train, killing 58 people.

More to follow...