Train strikes barrier at Cairo railway station and explodes, killing more than two dozen people

At least 25 people were killed after the train hit a barrier and exploded at Ramsis train station in Cairo, Egypt. Photo / AP

A train slammed into a barrier at Cairo's main railway station and exploded on Wednesday, sparking a major fire that killed at least 25 people and injured 47.

Hours later, Transportation Minister Hisham Arafat resigned, according to a cabinet statement.

Egypt's National Railway Authority said in a statement that the blaze erupted after the train struck a concrete barrier at Ramses Station, in central Cairo. The train's fuel tank apparently exploded, sending a huge ball of flames that engulfed the platforms and nearby buildings.

Images on Egyptian television and social media showed heavy plumes of black smoke rising from the station as ambulances and fire engines arrived.

Firefighters hose down a train that was damaged after a crash inside Ramsis train station in Cairo. Photo / AP

"Suddenly everything turned orange," said Hend Ahmad el-Taher, 30, a teacher, who was inside a cafeteria waiting for his train to depart when the accident occurred. "People in flames were running and screaming."

Egypt's railway infrastructure has long been neglected, and previous train accidents have been blamed on a lack of investment and poor management of the railway network.

In August 2017, 43 people were killed when two passenger trains collided near the northern coastal city of Alexandria. And in 2002, a fire swept through an overcrowded train near Cairo, killing more than 370 people. It was the nation's deadliest train accident.

Ambulances are parked outside Ramsis train station. Photo / AP

On Wednesday, most of those killed were on the platform, waiting for their trains or heading toward the exit.

"I ordered my coffee and was about to pay for it and get back to my train," Taher recalled. "But God worked His ways and the guy at the cafeteria took too long to get my coffee. In just one second, what happened happened. I could have been out on the platform."

"It was a nightmare," he added. "Even the people who got out safe were terrified."