![Nine child workers die in Egypt as bus plunges into the Nile](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/05/_2/740x404/pic_1716317331.jpg)
Nine Child Workers Die In Egypt As Bus Plunges Into The Nile
Faizan Hashmi Published May 21, 2024 | 11:48 PM
![Nine child workers die in Egypt as bus plunges into the Nile](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/05/_2/740x404/pic_1716317331.jpg)
At least 10 female farm workers, nine of them children, died in Egypt on Tuesday when a minibus plunged off a river ferry and into the Nile northwest of Cairo, the health ministry said
Cairo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st May, 2024) At least 10 female farm workers, nine of them children, died in Egypt on Tuesday when a minibus plunged off a river ferry and into the Nile northwest of Cairo, the health ministry said.
"The toll is at 10 and could rise," ministry spokesman Hossam Abdelghaffar told AFP.
Reporting the accident, the state's flagship Al-Ahram newspaper said the driver, who had released the handbrake, was arrested while trying to flee.
He had "a verbal argument" with one of the passengers before getting out of the bus, the paper said.
Two of the victims -- all of whom worked on an "export-oriented fruit farm" -- were 13 years old, according to a list published by Al-Ahram.
The rest were 16 and younger, except for one victim who was identified as a 40-year old woman.
The vehicle sank at the village of Abu Ghalib, some 50 kilometres (31 miles) northwest of the capital.
Villagers used small wooden boats to row out and help search-and-rescue workers look for survivors, as relatives waited anxiously on the banks of the narrow stretch of the Nile.
A crane was finally able to lift the minibus from the water, after rescuers and locals had swum out to extract victims from the windows of the submerged vehicle.
Nine injured passengers -- most of them also minors, according to al-Ahram's list -- were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, the health ministry said in a statement.
A search operation was "ongoing" into the evening for five more passengers who were unaccounted for, Al-Ahram said.
The ministry of social solidarity said it would provide financial compensation "to the families of the deceased and injured".
After carrying out an initial investigation at the scene, the public prosecutor's office ordered a technical inspection of the minibus to try to determine "the reasons it had plunged into the water", Al-Ahram reported.
Commuter accidents are common in Egypt, especially in agricultural areas along the Nile and adjoining streams, where small, overloaded boats ferry farmers and workers back and forth.
At least 1.3 million children are engaged in some form of child labour in the Arab world's most populous nation, official figures show.
Most do unpaid work on family farms, according to the International Labour Organization.
However, children are also frequently sent to work on large-scale export-oriented farms, according to rural sociologist Saker al-Nour, who has studied agricultural labour conditions extensively.
"These accidents happen repeatedly because girls are packed, in their own words, like sardines into these minibuses" to go and work in "terrible conditions", he told AFP.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
![Govt stands with police against terrorism for dura ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718391297.jpg)
Govt stands with police against terrorism for durable peace: Balochistan Chief M ..
![Trump turns 78 -- and age is increasingly an issue](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390873.jpg)
Trump turns 78 -- and age is increasingly an issue
![Putin says Ukraine must withdraw troops to start p ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390871.jpg)
Putin says Ukraine must withdraw troops to start peace talks
![PEMRA asks BOL TV to submit complainants’ detail ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390869.jpg)
PEMRA asks BOL TV to submit complainants’ details
![DC announces mega sports event as young athletes g ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390867.jpg)
DC announces mega sports event as young athletes gear up for glory
![NEPRA approves increase of Rs5.72 per unit in tari ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390163.jpg)
NEPRA approves increase of Rs5.72 per unit in tariff for electricity
![Commissioner chairs meeting regarding arrangements ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390279.jpg)
Commissioner chairs meeting regarding arrangements for Eid-ul-Azha
![French left vows 'total break' with Macron policie ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390277.jpg)
French left vows 'total break' with Macron policies
![Pakistan Embassy in The Hague hosts reception to c ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718390275.jpg)
Pakistan Embassy in The Hague hosts reception to celebrate National Day
![Niger scraps immunity of deposed president Bazoum](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718389672.jpg)
Niger scraps immunity of deposed president Bazoum
![Million-plus take part in Hajj pilgrimage under sh ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718389670.jpg)
Million-plus take part in Hajj pilgrimage under shadow of Gaza war
![FIA seizes 2000 kg of prohibited Monosodium Glutam ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/06/_1/235x155/pic_1718389541.jpg)
FIA seizes 2000 kg of prohibited Monosodium Glutamate
More Stories From World
-
Sweden's Aberg grabs US Open lead as rivals falter
1 minute ago -
Influx of murder victims overwhelms forensic morgue in Ecuador
12 minutes ago -
French left vows 'total break' with Macron policies
51 minutes ago -
Germany in early goal rush as Euro 2024 kicks off
1 hour ago -
UNHCR warns against apathy, inaction amid spike in forced displacement
1 hour ago -
Tennis: s'-Hertogenbosch ATP/WTA results
1 hour ago
-
Tennis: Stuttgart ATP results - collated
1 hour ago -
Aberg, Cantlay, Pavon fight for US Open lead as rivals falter
1 hour ago -
Putin says almost 700,000 Russian troops fighting in Ukraine
2 hours ago -
Germany stick with Neuer in Euro 2024 opener, McTominay starts for Scotland
2 hours ago -
Detry grabs US Open lead while McIlroy stumbles
2 hours ago -
USA into T20 World Cup Super Eights, Pakistan out, after rain strikes again
2 hours ago