At least 21 killed in minibus crash in Egypt

Health official says three children among those killed when a minibus overturned on a highway and fell into a canal.

At least 21 people were killed when a minibus fell into a canal in Egypt’s northern Nile Delta region, the Health Ministry said.

The bus was carrying around 35 people when it derailed on a road on Saturday and fell into the Mansuriya canal in the city of Aga in the northern governorate of Dakahlia, according to security sources.

Dr. Sherif Makeen, a Health Ministry official, said three children were among the dead.

Egyptian media reported that the accident was caused by a steering wheel malfunction, without giving further details.

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt, where roads are often poorly maintained and traffic regulations are not followed.

In 2021, approximately 7,000 people died on the roads of the most populous country in the Arab world, according to official figures.

In July, 25 people were killed and 35 injured in central Egypt when a bus collided with a truck parked on the side of the road.