Bus crash in Egypt’s South Sinai kills at least 21

CAIRO: At least 21 people were killed and several others injured when a bus crashed on a major road in Egypt’s South Sinai governorate on Wednesday, according to Egyptian and Jordanian authorities.

The accident took place on the Dahab-Nuweibaa road, before the Al-Saada area in the direction of Nuweibaa, the Egyptian Health Ministry said. The stretch runs along the Red Sea coast, a region popular with tourists.

Egypt’s Health Ministry initially reported a lower death toll, but later updated the number to at least 21. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said a number of Jordanians were travelling on the bus and that initial information indicated that some had been killed or injured.

The full nationalities of those killed had not been released by Egyptian authorities.

Emergency teams rush to crash site

Around 20 ambulances were dispatched to the scene following the crash, according to AFP. Egyptian health authorities said medical teams were operating at full capacity to treat the injured and manage the emergency.

Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar directed medical authorities to provide the injured with the highest level of care, ensure adequate supplies and medicines, and maintain coordination with officials in South Sinai.

The ministry said the situation was being monitored continuously and that all available medical teams were working to respond to the accident as quickly as possible.

It also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Jordanian nationals among victims

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said it was following the situation closely after learning that Jordanians were among the passengers. The ministry said initial information suggested that some Jordanian nationals had been killed or injured, but further details about their identities and condition were still being established.

The crash occurred in an area frequently used by visitors travelling between Red Sea tourist destinations, including Dahab and Nuweibaa.

Authorities had not immediately disclosed what caused the bus to crash, and investigations into the circumstances of the accident were expected to follow.

Another fatal road crash last month

The latest incident comes after another deadly road accident in Egypt last month. According to Reuters, 15 people were killed and 32 others injured in a crash in Ismailia governorate.

Road accidents are a recurring safety concern in Egypt, where crashes involving buses and other vehicles have frequently caused significant casualties. For Wednesday’s South Sinai crash, authorities continued to assess the victims and provide medical assistance to those injured as emergency operations remained underway.