Road accident kills 50 in Egypt

At least 50 people were killed in the Egyptian capital Cairo Sunday when a public bus plunged into a canal.

• The bus driver tried to avoid an oncoming truck as it travelled on the main highway between the Nile city of Minya to Cairo, according to security officers.
• More than 20 ambulances were sent to the accident place near the village of Bahrut ( about 200km south of Cairo) while police officers said they detained both the truck driver and the bus driver for questioning.
• Figures from Egyptian transport ministry show that about 6,000 people are killed and 30,000 are injured in traffic accident each year.
• A new highway code came into force in August as part of road safety measures in Egypt.