The death toll of a collision involving a train and a number of vehicles in northern Egypt has risen to 40, the official MENA news agency reported on Wednesday.

At least 40 others were injured when the train plowed into some vehicles at a level crossing near the Mediterranean coast city of Marsa Matrouh, about 430 km northwest of the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

In an interview with the Egyptian TV, Egyptian Minister of Transport Mohamed Mansour blamed the tragedy on the excessive speed of a trailer.

Three vehicles were waiting at Foka level crossing in the northern governorate of Matrouh as the train was about to pass when the speeding trailer came from behind, pushing them towards the railway and causing the collision with the train, Mansour said.

The trailer's brakes were likely not working, causing the vehicles to collide with other cars, he added.

Two cabins of the train overturned and another two were derailed.

The death toll is expected to rise since some of the 40 injured are in serious conditions. Earlier reports said at least 37 people were killed and 38 others wounded.

Traffic accidents in Egypt is common due to negligence. It's estimated that about 6,000 people were killed in traffic incidents annually.

In August 2006, at least 58 were killed and 143 others injured when a passenger train plunged into the back of another on the same track in the northern suburb of Cairo.

In May 2006, 65 people were injured when a passenger train collided with another train carrying goods in Sharqiya governorate.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2008)