Tragic bus crash in Egypt's Eastern desert claims nine lives, injures 44

Dubai: Nine people were killed and at least 44 others injured Friday in a devastating collision involving a passenger bus and two parked trucks on Egypt’s Eastern Desert Road near the village of Al Kureimat, Egyptian authorities said.

The crash occurred around kilometer 70 past Al Kureimat toll gates in Giza’s Atfih district, when a Super Jet bus slammed into two stationary transport trucks that had stopped due to a mechanical failure, according to preliminary police reports. 

The impact left mangled vehicles strewn across the desert highway and caused severe human and material losses.

Emergency services dispatched multiple ambulances from Beni Suef and Giza, transporting the dead and injured to three hospitals: Atfih Central, Al Wasat Central, and Beni Suef University Hospital.

Seven of the victims were taken to Atfih Central Hospital, two to Al Wasat Central. Twenty-two of the injured were admitted to Al Wasat Central, five to Beni Suef University, and the remainder to Atfih Central. Most of the victims are believed to be from the Sohag governorate, officials said, adding that two unidentified children were among the injured.

Governor of Beni Suef Mohammed Hani Ghoneim instructed health officials to provide the injured with full medical care, ensure the availability of blood supplies and essential medications, and maintain constant coordination with the Health Ministry’s emergency operations center.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the crash to determine the exact sequence of events and whether safety violations contributed to the tragedy.