The incident on the Western Desert Road in Luxor Governorate, Egypt, where a bus carrying forty-six passengers, including six children, caught fire, is a tragedy that could have turned into a disaster. Fortunately, all the passengers managed to escape death, in circumstances that could have been much more tragic.
According to the information gathered, Major General Mohamed El-Sawy, Assistant Minister of Interior and Director of Security in Luxor, was informed of the incident by the operations center of the security directorate. The bus, coming from Cairo and heading to eastern Sudan, was engulfed in flames near Naj El-Baraka. The passengers, mainly Sudanese, saw their journey turn into a nightmare in an instant.
Rescue was quickly mobilized, with civil protection forces equipped with several fire trucks and six ambulances being sent to the scene. Officers from the Qurna Police Station also arrived at the scene to assist.
Initial findings revealed that the fire was caused by a spark from the bus engine. Fortunately, the teams quickly brought the flames under control, preventing an even greater tragedy.
A preliminary investigation has been opened and the Public Prosecutor’s Office has been notified to conduct in-depth investigations into the circumstances of the incident.
This incident reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of safety measures in public transport. It highlights the courage of the passengers and rescue teams who, through their responsiveness and professionalism, helped prevent the worst. Let us hope that lessons will be learned from this accident to further strengthen the safety of travelers on Egyptian roads.