The death toll of a road accident in southern Egypt has risen to 47 and 10 others were injured, the state MENA news agency reported on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, a coach carrying some 70 passengers overturned on the way from Cairo to the southern city of Minia, some 220 km south of Cairo, said the report.
The bus plunged into Al-Ibrahimia lake as the driver was trying to avoid a speedy truck coming from the opposition direction, Minya Governor Ahmed Diaaeddin was quoted as saying.
More than 20 ambulances rushed to the spot to take part in rescue operations, said Diaaeddin, adding both drivers are being held pending investigations.
The death toll is likely to rise as some of the injured were in critical condition, said MENA.
Earlier in the day, a security source said more than 30 people were killed and 15 others injured in the road accident south of Cairo.
Traffic accidents are common in Egypt with an estimated annual death toll of some 6,000 people.
On Monday, a bus carrying Coptic students overturned about 30 km south of Cairo, killing at least 13 people and injuring 30 others.
On Dec. 1, at least 14 people were killed and 11 others injured when a lorry collided with two microbuses near the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, some 220 km northwest of Cairo.
The Egyptian traffic authorities implemented a new traffic code with tougher punishments for lawbreakers as of Aug. 1 in a bid to reduce road accidents.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article