Nine killed in crash on Egypt's 'Road of Death' as El Sisi orders dangerous sections shut
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi immediately ordered the closure of the Regional Ring Road, where the accident took place, and which some have nicknamed the "Road of Death" due to the high number of fatal incidents it witnesses.
A spike in crashes began after a repair project effectively closed one lane of traffic, according to state statistics. The project forced two-way traffic into a single lane without adequate dividers, drivers who use the road regularly told The National.
Saturday's crash occurred on the long stretch of the road currently under repair, which makes up around 110 kilometres of its total 365 kilometres.
The Egyptian Health Ministry confirmed the casualties and said the injured were transported to Al Bagour Specialised Hospital. Officials visited the hospital to oversee the response and 18 ambulances were deployed to the scene, the ministry said.
Mr El Sisi responded by ordering the temporary closure of all parts of the Regional Ring Road currently undergoing maintenance. He directed authorities to implement safe detours and fast-track repairs to prevent further incidents.
He also instructed the Interior Ministry to intensify enforcement of traffic laws, including crackdowns on speeding and overloaded vehicles, calling for firmer legal action against violators.
Saturday's crash follows a similar tragedy on June 26 in Menoufia, when 19 people, including 18 teenage girls travelling in a minibus, were killed after a lorry crossed into oncoming traffic and crushed their vehicle.
That accident, also on the Regional Ring Road, sparked national outrage over the road's safety and the handling of infrastructure projects.
Lorry drivers, who have come under increased scrutiny after the June 26 crash, say they are being unfairly blamed for accidents caused by poor road conditions.
Several drivers fear new regulations, including random drug testing and stricter licensing requirements, will disproportionately punish them while failing to address systemic issues.
The Regional Ring Road, completed in 2018 at a cost of billions of pounds, was intended to improve connectivity across Egypt. Instead, it has become infamous for frequent accidents, earning its grim nickname.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Egypt arrests nearly 50 drivers for drug use in clampdown after deadly crashes
Egyptian authorities arrested 48 drivers for drug use during a nationwide clampdown aimed at improving road safety, particularly on the Regional Ring Road, commonly referred to as the "Road of Death." The arrests were part of a sweeping 24-hour campaign by the Interior Ministry, which tested 355 drivers for narcotics and uncovered multiple violations, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The campaign comes in response to nationwide outrage over a series of deadly accidents on the Regional Ring Road, which connects six provinces and has become notorious for its high accident rate. The road has been made unsafe by poorly managed repair work, currently being carried out by the state, that forces two-way traffic into a single lane on a 110-kilometre stretch of the road. The crackdown also resulted in 744 traffic violations on the Regional Ring Road alone, including driving against traffic, overloading passengers, and failing to meet licensing requirements. In addition to the 48 drivers arrested for illegal drugs, 36 individuals wanted for a total of 136 court judgments were detained, and seven vehicles were impounded for serious violations, the ministry said. It promised to continue the crackdown. On Sunday morning, another crash occurred on the Regional Ring Road near the village of Al-Naamana in Sharqia province. The incident involved the collision of a bus carrying 26 passengers, a lorry, and two microbuses. The crash caused damage to the vehicles but no injuries or fatalities were recorded, according to the Sharqia Security Directorate. Police detained the drivers involved and launched an investigation. While no lives were lost in Sunday's crash, it has reignited concerns about the road's safety. On Saturday evening, nine people died and 11 were injured in a head-on collision between two minibuses on the road. On June 26, 19 people, including 18 teenage girls, were killed when a lorry crossed into oncoming traffic and crushed their minibus in Menoufia province. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has ordered the temporary closure of all repair zones on the Regional Ring Road and instructed authorities to make safe detours available. In a statement following Saturday's crash, he called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, including oversight of lorry drivers and expanded drug testing.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Egypt arrests nearly 50 drivers for drug use in crackdown after deadly crashes
Egyptian authorities arrested 48 drivers for drug use during a nationwide crackdown aimed at improving road safety, particularly on the Regional Ring Road, commonly referred to as the "Road of Death." The arrests were part of a sweeping 24-hour campaign by the Interior Ministry, which tested 355 drivers for narcotics and uncovered multiple violations, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The campaign comes in response to nationwide outrage over a series of deadly accidents on the Regional Ring Road, which connects six provinces and has become notorious for its high accident rate. The road has been made unsafe by poorly managed repair work, currently being carried out by the state, that forces two-way traffic into a single lane on a 110-kilometre stretch of the road. The crackdown also resulted in 744 traffic violations on the Regional Ring Road alone, including driving against traffic, overloading passengers, and failing to meet licensing requirements. In addition to the 48 drivers arrested for illegal drugs, 36 individuals wanted for a total of 136 court judgments were detained, and seven vehicles were impounded for serious violations, the ministry said. It promised to continue the crackdown. On Sunday morning, another crash occurred on the Regional Ring Road near the village of Al-Naamana in Sharqia province. The incident involved the collision of a bus carrying 26 passengers, a lorry, and two microbuses. The crash caused damage to the vehicles but no injuries or fatalities were recorded, according to the Sharqia Security Directorate. Police detained the drivers involved and launched an investigation. While no lives were lost in Sunday's crash, it has reignited concerns about the road's safety. On Saturday evening, nine people died and 11 were injured in a head-on collision between two minibuses on the road. On June 26, 19 people, including 18 teenage girls, were killed when a lorry crossed into oncoming traffic and crushed their minibus in Menoufia province. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has ordered the temporary closure of all repair zones on the Regional Ring Road and instructed authorities to make safe detours available. In a statement following Saturday's crash, he called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, including oversight of lorry drivers and expanded drug testing.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Nine killed in crash on Egypt's 'Road of Death' as El Sisi orders dangerous sections shut
Nine people died and 11 more were injured on Saturday when two minibuses filled with passengers collided head-on in Egypt 's Menoufia province. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi immediately ordered the closure of the Regional Ring Road, where the accident took place, and which some have nicknamed the "Road of Death" due to the high number of fatal incidents it witnesses. A spike in crashes began after a repair project effectively closed one lane of traffic, according to state statistics. The project forced two-way traffic into a single lane without adequate dividers, drivers who use the road regularly told The National. Saturday's crash occurred on the long stretch of the road currently under repair, which makes up around 110 kilometres of its total 365 kilometres. The Egyptian Health Ministry confirmed the casualties and said the injured were transported to Al Bagour Specialised Hospital. Officials visited the hospital to oversee the response and 18 ambulances were deployed to the scene, the ministry said. Mr El Sisi responded by ordering the temporary closure of all parts of the Regional Ring Road currently undergoing maintenance. He directed authorities to implement safe detours and fast-track repairs to prevent further incidents. He also instructed the Interior Ministry to intensify enforcement of traffic laws, including crackdowns on speeding and overloaded vehicles, calling for firmer legal action against violators. Saturday's crash follows a similar tragedy on June 26 in Menoufia, when 19 people, including 18 teenage girls travelling in a minibus, were killed after a lorry crossed into oncoming traffic and crushed their vehicle. That accident, also on the Regional Ring Road, sparked national outrage over the road's safety and the handling of infrastructure projects. Lorry drivers, who have come under increased scrutiny after the June 26 crash, say they are being unfairly blamed for accidents caused by poor road conditions. Several drivers fear new regulations, including random drug testing and stricter licensing requirements, will disproportionately punish them while failing to address systemic issues. The Regional Ring Road, completed in 2018 at a cost of billions of pounds, was intended to improve connectivity across Egypt. Instead, it has become infamous for frequent accidents, earning its grim nickname.
