Relatives are gathering at Cairo's central morgue to identify loved ones killed in Egypt's worst railway disaster.

Egyptian officials say at least 361 people died Wednesday when an 11-carriage train caught fire as it headed south from Cairo, packed with people ahead of the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice. An earlier count put the death toll at 370.

Egypt's Middle East News Agency says 170 bodies have been identified, but others are charred beyond recognition.

Many passengers were trapped inside the overcrowded train carriages, while others died jumping from the moving train. The train finally stopped near the town of al-Ayatt, about 70 kilometers south of Cairo.

The cause of the tragedy is under investigation. Officials believe the fire may have started from a portable gas stove carried on the train in violation of regulations.

Prosecutor General Maher Abdel Wahid says his investigative team will look into both the cause of the accident and those who are responsible.

Opposition groups like the banned Muslim Brotherhood blamed the tragedy on "gross negligence."

A front-page editorial in the opposition daily "Al-Wafd," demanded to know who is responsible and, in its words, "hang them in public squares and curse them for what they have done to the helpless Egyptian people."

The government has announced 665-dollars compensation for families of the dead and 222 dollars for the injured.

(AP, Reuters, prev)

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