The Egyptian flag. (Photo: AFP)
A bus accident on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula left 22 people dead and 28 injured on Wednesday, according to an updated toll from the Health Ministry, in a country with dilapidated infrastructure where road deaths are common. Ten Jordanians are among the victims, reported the official Jordanian broadcaster Al-Mamlaka, adding that the vehicle was carrying a total of 43 people, including 22 Jordanian nationals.
The accident occurred on the road linking the tourist towns of Dahab and Nuweiba. Twenty ambulances were dispatched to the scene to evacuate the injured and provide first aid, the Egyptian ministry added. The previous death toll stood at 16. The causes have not been disclosed. AFP footage shows the overturned coach and debris scattered along the road. The region is a popular tourist destination renowned for its marine biodiversity, natural landscapes and mountain hiking trails.
Such accidents are common in Egypt and are often attributed to dangerous driving, poor maintenance of vehicles and roads, and inconsistent enforcement of traffic regulations. Last year, nearly 6,000 people were killed across the country, according to the Egyptian statistics agency. Last month, at least 18 people, the majority of whom were teenagers, died in a collision between two pick-up trucks carrying farm workers in northern Egypt.
