A devastating collision between two vehicles on an Egyptian highway Thursday afternoon resulted in 18 fatalities and three injuries. The victims were fishermen being transported to work at fish farms in Port Said when the tragedy occurred.
CAIRO — A devastating highway crash in Egypt Thursday afternoon claimed the lives of 18 people and left three others injured when two vehicles collided, according to Egyptian authorities.
The fatal accident took place around 12:30 p.m. on the 30 June Axis highway south of Port Said province, where a truck struck a pickup vehicle carrying fishermen to their workplace. Officials have not yet determined what caused the two vehicles to crash into each other.
The pickup was transporting fishermen to fish farms located in Port Said, a coastal area in Egypt’s northeast known for its thriving fishing sector, when the deadly accident occurred. Authorities believe the workers were likely residents of Matareya, a town and district within Dakahlia province.
Images shared on the Facebook page of Dakahlia’s governor revealed the devastating scene, showing the pickup vehicle completely destroyed between two large cargo trucks with wreckage spread throughout the roadway.
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly issued a statement offering sympathy to the bereaved families and directed that financial support be given to them. The Port Said governor also traveled to both the accident location and area hospitals where the injured were being treated to confirm traffic flow had resumed and survivors were getting adequate medical attention, his office announced on Facebook.
Egypt experiences thousands of traffic fatalities annually due to its problematic transportation safety situation. Most accidents result from excessive speed, deteriorating road conditions, and inadequate enforcement of driving regulations.