Death toll rises in Egypt crash

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Emergency crews at the scene of the accident

At least 42 people were killed in Wednesday's collision between a train and several vehicles at a level crossing in northern Egypt, police say.

Some 40 more people were injured in the crash near Marsa Matruh, 430km (270 miles) north-west of the capital Cairo.

A truck failed to stop at the crossing and pushed several waiting vehicles into the path of the oncoming train, security officials said.

Road accidents are frequent in Egypt, killing about 6,000 people every year.

Many of the crashes are due to reckless driving, poor road and vehicle maintenance and lack of enforcement of traffic regulations, correspondents say.

In Wednesday's accident, two train carriages overturned on top of two cars, while another two carriages were derailed by the force of the impact, state media reported.

Authorities were still trying to clear the track a day after the accident happened.

An investigation into the crash has been launched.