A bus carrying university students overturned east of Cairo, Egypt on Monday, October 14, killing at least 12 people and injuring 33 others, according to Egypt’s health ministry. The accident occurred on the Al-Galala highway, which connects the capital to the Red Sea coastal towns, including Ain Sokhna.
The students were from Galala University, located in the hills overlooking the Red Sea city of Ain Sokhna, about 80 miles east of Cairo. They were returning to their dormitory after classes when the bus overturned. The health ministry stated that 28 ambulances were dispatched to the scene to transport the injured to the Suez Medical Complex.
Local media reported that most of the deceased were medical students. The privately owned Sada al-Balad news channel reported that initial investigations suggested the bus driver was speeding and lost control of the vehicle. The driver has been arrested as part of the investigation.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the bus flipping over multiple times before coming to a halt. “It was a horrific sight; people were trapped inside,” a survivor told Egypt Independent. Social media was filled with messages of condolence and calls for improved road safety measures.
The health ministry did not provide details on the condition of the injured. However, emergency services were declared on high alert, and medical teams were dispatched to provide care. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Health, and Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education, extended their condolences to the families of the victims.
Road accidents are a significant issue in Egypt, claiming thousands of lives annually. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), 7,101 people were killed in road accidents in 2021, a 15.2 percent increase from the previous year. Factors contributing to these accidents include speeding, poor road conditions, and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws.
The recent bus crash comes just two days after a deadly train collision in the city of Zagazig, northeast of Cairo. On Saturday, two passenger trains collided, killing at least three people and injuring 49 others. Train accidents are also common in Egypt due to an aging railway system and mismanagement.
The government has been working to improve transportation safety. In recent years, initiatives have been announced to modernize the railway network and upgrade road infrastructure. In 2018, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated that 250 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately $8.13 billion) would be needed to overhaul the rail network.
The World Health Organization has been supporting Egypt in developing a national plan for safety promotion and an injury surveillance system to address road traffic incidents. Efforts focus on improving road safety management, infrastructure, vehicle safety, user behavior, and post-crash response.
Galala University is one of the government’s national projects in the Suez governorate. The university community is mourning the loss of its students, with many expressing grief and solidarity with the families affected.