A devastating truck-minibus collision in Egypt‘s Menoufia province has claimed the lives of 19 people, predominantly teenage girls, as they were traveling to work in the early hours of Friday morning. The accident occurred on a regional road in the city of Ashmoun, north of Cairo, when the truck collided with the minibus carrying laborers to their workplace from their home village of Kafr al-Sanabsa.
According to local officials, most of the workers were teenagers, with two victims being only 14 years old. Egyptian media has dubbed the crash victims “martyrs for their daily bread,” highlighting the precarious circumstances faced by many young laborers in the country. The collision has sparked widespread outrage and concern over the safety of rural transportation and child labor conditions.
The accident has brought attention to the issue of child labor in Egypt, where approximately 1.3 million minors are engaged in some form of work. Many underage laborers travel in overcrowded vehicles to reach their jobs, increasing the risk of accidents. Only three people survived the crash, and they were transferred to the General Ashmoun Hospital for treatment.
Egypt’s Labour Minister, Mohamed Gebran, has ordered authorities to compensate the families of the deceased with up to 200,000 Egyptian pounds (about $4,000) each. Each injured person will also receive 20,000 Egyptian pounds ($400). Menoufia provincial governor, Ibrahim Abu Leimon, has announced an investigation into the cause of the crash, with preliminary reports suggesting excessive speeding may have been a key factor.
This tragic incident highlights the need for improved road safety measures and stricter enforcement of child labor laws in Egypt. The country experiences a high number of deadly traffic accidents every year, claiming thousands of lives. In October 2023, a horrific collision on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road resulted in 35 fatalities, underscoring the importance of addressing road safety concerns.