At least 13 people have been killed and 34 others injured after a large truck collided with a tour bus on a highway west of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, state media have reported.
The crash occurred on Tuesday on the Cairo-Asyut Western Desert Road, prompting an emergency response as authorities worked to clear the highway and assist those affected.
Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported that 13 people died in the collision, while the injured were transported to a hospital in Giza for medical treatment.
An AFP correspondent at the scene reported extensive damage to the vehicles, with the front section of the bus almost completely torn apart by the impact.
Rescue and recovery teams were seen clearing the wreckage, while a crane was used to lift the heavily damaged bus from the scene.
Photographs and observations from the crash site showed twisted metal and scattered debris along the roadside. Passenger seats had been thrown from the bus, while parts of the wreckage were visible on the rear of the truck.
The severity of the damage highlighted the force of the collision and the challenges facing emergency teams as they worked to remove the wreckage and restore traffic movement along the highway.
Authorities have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash, including what caused the truck and the tour bus to collide.
The injured passengers were receiving treatment at a hospital in Giza, according to Al-Ahram. Further details about their conditions and the identities of those killed had not been provided in the initial reports.
The incident adds to the long-running concerns over road safety in Egypt, where serious traffic accidents continue to claim lives and leave many others injured.
Road crashes are relatively common in the North African country and are frequently attributed to factors including reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and inconsistent enforcement of traffic regulations.
The country’s road safety challenges have prompted repeated calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, improved vehicle inspections and measures to reduce dangerous driving.
According to Egypt’s state statistics agency, nearly 6,000 people were killed in road accidents across the country last year, underscoring the scale of the problem.
The latest collision also follows several other deadly road accidents in recent months.
Last month, a bus crash in the Sinai Peninsula killed 22 people, including 10 Jordanian tourists, in another incident that raised concerns about the safety of road travel.
In August, at least 18 people, many of them children, were killed in northern Egypt when two pickup trucks carrying agricultural day labourers collided.
The recurring incidents have drawn attention to the risks faced by passengers and workers who depend on road transport for travel and their daily livelihoods.
Long-distance highways are particularly important in connecting Egypt’s major cities and communities, but crashes involving buses and heavy vehicles can have devastating consequences because of the number of passengers involved and the force of impact.
Safety experts have frequently emphasised the importance of responsible driving, regular vehicle maintenance, compliance with speed limits and effective monitoring of commercial transport operators in reducing road fatalities.
Investigations into major crashes are also important in determining whether driver behaviour, mechanical failure, road conditions or other factors contributed to the incident.
In Tuesday’s crash, authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision as part of efforts to establish responsibility and determine the cause.
The immediate priority remains providing medical care to the injured, recovering the wreckage and ensuring the affected stretch of highway is safe for other road users.
The death toll and number of injuries make the incident one of the latest deadly crashes to highlight Egypt’s continuing road safety challenges.
As investigations continue, further details are expected to emerge regarding the victims and the circumstances that led to the collision.
