A tragic bus accident caused the death of 21 passengers on Saturday, November 12, when the bus plunged into a canal in the Nile River Delta region of Egypt.
The bus was carrying 35 people when the driver lost control, causing the bus to tumble off the highway and into the canal and be submerged in the water. The accident occurred about 62 miles from the capital city of Cairo.
Dr. Sherif Makeen of the Egyptian Ministry of Health said that three children were among those who lost their lives, but they had not yet confirmed their nationalities. Six other people were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.
Price said that the vehicle may have developed mechanical issues with the steering wheel, causing the driver to lose control of the bus.
Reports indicate that the bus, headed to Mansoura City, was severely damaged, and its windows shattered due to the crash, as can be seen in images shown online.
Witnesses shared images of the accident on social media, with the red and white bus in the canal and many people lined up on the road next to the accident scene as rescue efforts were underway. A few passengers who had managed to escape were standing on top of the bus, which was completely submerged in the canal water.
Egyptian roads are known to be very hazardous, with thousands of people losing their lives from car accidents, mostly due to poor road maintenance, speeding and careless drivers who fail to follow driving rules.
Approximately 7,000 people lost their lives in Egypt in 2021 due to accidents on the roads. In October, 11 people were killed and nine injured when a truck crashed into a minibus in Dakahlia. The minibus was carrying 14 passengers.
In July, 25 people were killed and 35 injured when a passenger bus rammed into a trailer parked on a highway in the Minya Province.