A school bus crashed into two trucks and a private vehicle on an agricultural road early Wednesday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 16 others, reported state-run news agency MENA.
The crash occurred on the 169 kilometre of the Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Road in Beheira, reported MENA.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehle and Health Minister Adel al-Adawi headed to the scene of the accident, reported state television. Mehleb vowed that there will be a “firm stand” with “undisciplined” truck drivers.
The crash ignited a fire among the cars on the road. A health ministry source told Aswat Masriya that 11 bodies of the victims were completely burnt.
Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi ordered a medically-equipped aircraft to fly to the scene of the crash and help the victims.
According to media, the bus belonged to Al-Orman Hotel and Tourism High School.
Road accidents are a common occurrence in Egypt, being among the prime causes of death in the Arab world’s most populous country.
According to a report released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in June, the number of car accidents occurring in Egypt in 2013 rose by 0.4 percent when compared to the 2012 figure.
This is the second deadly road accident to take place in Egypt this week.
A microbus carrying university students crashed into a truck in Sohag on Sunday, leaving at least 10 female students killed.
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