ALBAWBA- A tragic bus accident on Monday claimed the lives of 12 university students and injured 33 others in northeastern Egypt. The bus, carrying students from Galala University, overturned on the Al-Galala Highway near Ain Sokhna while traveling from the university to Cairo.
According to Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population, seven students were confirmed dead at the scene. In contrast, 25 others sustained various injuries and were transported to the Suez Medical Complex for treatment.
The Egyptian Ambulance Authority dispatched 24 ambulances to the site for emergency assistance.
Local authorities have announced an assessing procedure of the situation, and the Public Prosecution has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
The incident highlights ongoing road safety challenges in Egypt, where road accident injuries increased by 8.7% in 2022, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
The tragic bus accident involving Galala University students came just a day after another railway incident in Egypt. On Sunday, a locomotive collided with the rear of a Cairo-bound passenger train in the southern province of Minya, resulting in at least one death and multiple injuries.
The crash occurred about 270 kilometers (168 miles) south of Cairo, causing two train carriages to derail and fall into a nearby watercourse. Footage aired by local media showed the carriages partially submerged, while authorities continued to investigate the cause.
The Health Ministry reported that at least 21 individuals were hospitalized following the train collision, with 19 subsequently discharged after receiving medical treatment.
This marks the second train accident in Egypt within a month, underscoring persistent issues in the country's aging railway infrastructure, which has been plagued by mismanagement and safety concerns. In September, another deadly train collision in the Nile Delta resulted in at least three fatalities.
These back-to-back incidents highlight the urgent need for improved safety measures in Egypt's transportation networks, as the government continues efforts to upgrade and modernize the country's roads and railway systems.
