Two trains have collided in the Nile Delta north of the Egyptian capital Cairo, killing at least 80 people and injuring 163 others.

Police and health ministry sources said there have been many casualties.

Aljazeera's correspondent in Cairo said at least 80 people have died.

The accident took place about 7am local time (0400 GMT) near the town of Qalyoub, about 20km (12 miles) north of Cairo, they said.
   
One of the trains derailed and overturned, one of the health ministry sources said. Ambulances and rescue workers have reached the site, the sources added.

One train was heading for Cairo from Mansura while the other, on the same line, was coming from Benha, a source said.

Big impact

Four cars derailed and overturned which required closing the lines from Benha and Mansoura.

The train from Mansoura was going at least 80km (50 miles) per hour when the collision occurred after it failed to abide by a stop signal outside Qalyoub train station, police sources said speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to give statements to the media.

The driver of the Mansoura train was killed and the locomotive overturned, police said.

A fire that broke out as a result of the incident was extinguished.

Egypt has a history of serious train accidents, which are usually blamed on poorly maintained equipment. Many of those incidents have occurred in the Nile Delta.

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