2 dead, 8 missing after truck slides off ferry into River Nile

At least two people died, and eight others were missing yesterday after a truck slid off a ferry and into the River Nile.

There were 24 farm labourers in the truck including children who were returning home from a farm.

According to a statement issued by the public prosecutor in the town of Monshar El-Kanater, Giza, where the accident happened, the ferry was unlicenced.

The accident is the latest transport related tragedy to hit Egypt, which suffers from numerous ferry accidents.

In February last year a boat capsized on Lake Mariout near Alexandria killing at least nine people of an estimated 17 people on board.

In July 2015 at least 21 people died including two children after a cargo boat collided with a ferry on the River Nile.

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It has been reported that boat owners on the River Nile do not obtain licences despite taking tourists out and little is done to enforce safety rules.

Car accidents are also increasing in Egypt. On Saturday 16 people were killed and 18 others injured after a microbus and a bus collied in Sinai.

Two days before, two people died and 45 others were injured on the Ain Sukhna Road after a minibus and a trailer overturned.

Egypt is one of the top countries worldwide for traffic accidents due to its poor transportation safety record and poor maintenance of the roads.

In March last year a deadly train crash killed 18 people in Sohag Governorate, one of hundreds of train accidents that are reported each year.

In November, two people died when a train collided with a pickup truck. Egypt’s rail system is in desperate need of investment and modernisation.