At least 13 people have been killed and 37 others injured after a tourist bus collided with a heavy truck on a desert highway in Egypt.
The crash happened on the Cairo-Assiut Western Desert Road, which connects the capital with the country’s southern regions.
The Amwag Travel bus was travelling from Upper Egypt when it struck the truck with such force that the bus was reportedly split in half. Five of those killed have yet to be identified, according to local media reports.
Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said 28 ambulances had been dispatched to the scene to transport victims for treatment.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar also instructed nearby hospitals to increase their emergency preparedness and provide all necessary medical assistance to those injured.
The Health Ministry stressed that the casualty figures were preliminary, with assessments still under way.
Images and footage from the scene showed emergency crews working to clear the wreckage, with the front of the bus reduced to twisted metal and exposed wires. Passenger seats were also scattered along the roadside.
Preliminary traffic investigations raised the possibility that the bus driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, Gulf News reported. However, authorities have yet to establish the cause of the collision.
A security source cited by Egyptian news outlet Masrawy offered a different account, alleging that the bus was speeding and struck the rear of the truck while attempting to overtake it.
Other reports suggested the truck had been stationary at the time of the crash.
Road traffic accidents are common in Egypt, where reckless driving and weak enforcement of traffic laws have been cited as contributing factors.
