Multi-vehicle collision kills 3 Indian tourists in Egypt
CAIRO:Three Indians were among eight killed and 13 others injured when two buses carrying tourists crashed into a truck in Egypt’s Suez governorate, the Indian embassy here said on Sunday.
The buses were heading to the beach-resort town of Hurghada on Saturday when they collided with the truck near Ain Sokhna town, about 120 kilometres east of Cairo.
“We regret to inform that three Indian citizens have lost their lives in the bus accident that occurred on 28 December near Ain Sokhna. Others who are injured are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals in Egypt,” the Indian embassy in Egypt tweeted.
It said the relatives of the deceased and the injured have been contacted and all assistance is being rendered to them.
“Relatives of the deceased and the injured have been contacted. Embassy officials are present at the hospitals and in touch with hospital authorities. All assistance is being rendered,” another tweet read.
“Embassy officials are present at the hospitals and in touch with hospital authorities,” the mission said.
The embassy said there were 16 Indian tourists on the buses.
The deceased include two Malaysians and three Egyptians.
The Indian embassy in Cairo tweeted, “Bus accident with 16 Indian tourists on board occurred today near Ain Sokhna in Egypt. Embassy officials are at hospitals in Suez city and Cairo. Helpline numbers +20-1211299905 and +20-1283487779 are available.”
Sources said that the injured include other Indian and Malaysian nationals. However, no other details were released.
According to the local media, the deceased also include two Malaysians and three Egyptians. More than 20 people were injured and rushed to the hospital.
Traffic accidents are common in Egypt where many roads are poorly maintained and regulations are laxly enforced. But efforts by authorities to crack down on traffic violations, including speeding, appear to have borne fruit in recent years, with official figures showing a decline in road deaths.
In 2018 there were 8,480 road accidents compared with 11,098 the previous year, according to the bureau of statistics.
Deaths from traffic accidents fell from more than 5,000 in 2016 to 3,747 the following year and 3,087 in 2018, official figures show.
Ain Sokhna is a town in the Suez governorate, lying on the western shore of the Red Sea’s Gulf of Suez. It is situated 55 kilometres south of Suez and approximately 120 kilometres east of Cairo.