Residents of the Zawyat Ghazal village in the northern Egyptian city of Damanhour, located in Beheira Governorate, staged protests on Sunday after seven children drowned when the three-wheeled rickshaw, or tuktuk, they were riding in fell into the Mahmoudiya canal. The accident occurred because of poor road conditions, the villagers said. Young and old relatives and friends of the deceased children gathered in front of the Municipal Council office to protest the poor state of the roads in the village, privately-owned al-Masry al-Youm reports. Meanwhile, other village residents blocked the road leading into the village, after which authorities deployed anti-riot police, anticipating wider unrest. One of the villagers explained that besides the piles of rubbish littering the road where the accident occurred, a gas company was drilling there, making it difficult for drivers to pass. After rescue workers recovered the bodies of the children, who were aged between 8 and 11, burials were held late Saturday night. While the driver of the tuktuk was ordered detained for four days pending a criminal investigation, Beheira Governor Nadia Abdou promised LE 5000 in compensation to each of the affected families. Road Safety Egypt has…
Protests Erupt in Damanhour after 7 Children Die in Road Accident
November 13, 2017
