Cairo, Egypt – A devastating bus accident on the Al-Galala highway east of Cairo on Monday claimed the lives of at least 12 people, all students from Galala University, and left 33 injured. The bus, transporting students back to their dormitory from the coastal town of Ain Sokhna, reportedly lost control at high speed and overturned multiple times.
The students, many of whom were pursuing medical degrees, met with calamity scant miles from their university, which nests above Ain Sokhna, around 80 miles east of Cairo. Rescue operations were promptly initiated, with the health ministry dispatching 28 ambulances to transfer the injured to the Suez Medical Complex for urgent care.
Initial reports from onsite witnesses portray a chaotic scene with the bus flipping repeatedly before coming to a stop. While the driver has been taken into custody for further investigation, the high speed at which the bus was traveling is currently cited as a primary cause of the accident.
Reacting to the tragedy, both Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, the Health Minister, and Ayman Ashour, the Minister of Higher Education, extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and stressed the urgency of assessing and enhancing road safety measures.
This accident underscores a persistent and troubling trend of road fatalities in Egypt. The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics points out that 7,101 individuals lost their lives in road-related incidents in 2021 alone — a 15.2% rise from the previous year. Speeding, deteriorating road infrastructure, and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws have been primary culprits behind such incidents.
The government recognizes the dire need for infrastructure improvements and better traffic regulations. Efforts have been amplified in recent years to overhaul both roadways and Egypt’s aging railway system, which has also seen tragic incidents, such as a collision just two days prior in Zagazig that resulted in three fatalities and dozens of injuries.
In response to the growing concern about traffic and transport safety, the Egyptian government, with support estimated around 250 billion Egyptian pounds ($8.13 billion), aims to modernize transportation networks and has also collaborated with the World Health Organization. Their joint efforts focus on developing a comprehensive national safety strategy and strengthening the overall emergency response system and injury surveillance to reduce road traffic casualties.
Galala University, an important educational project initiated by the government in the Suez governorate, is now mourning the loss of its vibrant student community. The tragedy has sparked an ardent call for implementing stringent road safety measures and has galvanized the university and surrounding communities into showing support and solidarity towards the grieving families.
This latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for reinforced safety protocols and swift governmental action to prevent future tragedies on Egypt’s roads.