On Monday, October 14, a bus transporting students from Galala University overturned east of Cairo, Egypt, resulting in the death of at least 12 individuals and injuries to 33 others, according to Egypt’s health ministry. The mishap took place on Al-Galala highway, a vital artery connecting Cairo to Red Sea coastal towns like Ain Sokhna.
As reported by Reuters, the students were returning to their dormitory after classes when the accident happened. The university is situated about 80 miles east of Cairo, in the hills overlooking the Red Sea city of Ain Sokhna. The health ministry confirmed that 28 ambulances were dispatched to the accident site to ferry the injured to the Suez Medical Complex.
Local media outlets, including privately owned Sada al-Balad news channel, reported that most of the fatalities were medical students. Early investigations point to the bus driver’s high speed as a potential cause of the accident, leading to the loss of vehicle control. The driver has since been apprehended for further investigation.
A survivor described the scene to the Egypt Independent as chaotic, with the bus tumbling several times before it came to rest. “It was a horrific sight; people were trapped inside,” the survivor recounted. Social media was flooded with messages of condolences, along with calls for enhanced road safety measures.
The health ministry did not offer specifics about the condition of the injured. However, it did announce a high-alert status for emergency services, with medical teams sent to provide care. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Health, and Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education, expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.
Road accidents in Egypt continue to be a significant concern, causing thousands of deaths every year. The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reported that 7,101 people died in road accidents in 2021, marking a 15.2 percent rise from the preceding year. Contributing factors include speeding, substandard road conditions, and lax enforcement of traffic regulations.
This tragic accident follows a deadly train collision that occurred in Zagazig, northeast of Cairo, just two days prior. That collision between two passenger trains resulted in at least three deaths and 49 injuries. Train accidents are also a common occurrence in Egypt, largely due to an aging railway infrastructure and administrative shortcomings.
The Egyptian government has been striving to enhance transportation safety. In recent years, it has announced initiatives to modernize the railway network and improve road infrastructure. In 2018, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared that an overhaul of the rail network would require 250 billion Egyptian pounds (roughly $8.13 billion).
The World Health Organization is assisting Egypt in formulating a national plan for safety promotion and an injury surveillance system to monitor road traffic incidents. The focus is on enhancing road safety management, infrastructure, vehicle safety, road user behavior, and response to accidents.
Galala University, a government national project in the Suez governorate, is mourning the loss of its students. Many have expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the affected families.
