Egypt train crash

Two trains have collided in northern Egypt roughly 12 miles north of Cairo.

Information varies in terms of injuries: Reuters has reported 80 deaths at the scene with as many as 131 injured but other sources mention up to 100 deaths.

The trains collided near the town of Qalyoub and information is still coming to light as to how the accident occurred.

It is thought that the trains were on the same track, as one of them hit another from behind causing the derailment of both trains.

Carriages have overturned and there are reports of fire.

The accident happened today (Monday) at around 07:30 local time.

Emergency services are at the scene dealing with the crash and it is thought many of the injured will be taken to hospitals in Cairo.

Egypt has unfortunately had a bad history of train accidents in the hundred and fifty years of train travel in the country, the BBC reports.

A train inferno in February 2002 killed around 250 people and in the late 1990s train disasters involving collisions and fires were responsible for a number of deaths and injuries.