At least 18 people died and another 16 were injured this Saturday when a bus overturned in a channel of the Nile River in the town of Mansura, in northern Egypt, local authorities reported.
The security director of the northern province of Dakahlia, Marwan Habib, said in a statement that the accident occurred because the bus driver made “an incorrect overtaking”, without offering further details.
Crashed bus in Egypt
He also indicated that river rescue forces, ambulances and police officers traveled to the scene and managed to rescue 16 people alive so far, who are injured of varying severity.
The injured were transferred to two hospitals in the province, while the authorities continue combing the channel in search of more bodies, according to the note.
Witnesses to the accident help the injured
So far it is unknown how many people were traveling inside the bus, and local Egyptian media point out that children are among the victims.
In 2021, a total of 7,101 people died in traffic accidents
Thousands of people die each year in road accidents in Egypt due to poor road conditions, speeding and non-compliance with traffic regulations.
According to the state statistics agency CAPMAS, in 2021 a total of 7,101 people died in traffic accidents, an increase of 15.2% compared to the previous year, during which 6,164 people died.