A morning commute turned into a devastating tragedy on Friday when a speeding truck collided with a minibus near Ashmun on the regional road. Nineteen individuals—mostly teenage girls—were killed and two others wounded when the vehicle, carrying day laborers from Kafr al-Sanabisa to work sites in the Nile Delta north of Cairo, collided head-on with the truck.
Victims in Their Prime
Preliminary investigations suggest that excessive speed and an unsafe overtaking maneuver by the truck driver triggered the crash. Police later arrested the driver—who had fled the scene—and he now faces charges related to the collision.
According to local reports, the victims ranged in age from 14 to 22 and earned daily wages of around 130 Egyptian pounds (approximately $2.50), supporting their families or working in place of absent breadwinners. Many had dropped out of school due to financial hardship.
Nation Mourns
The funeral, held in Kafr al-Sanabisa, drew thousands of residents, their sorrow palpable as they carried wooden coffins in a somber procession, performed funeral prayers in chorus, and laid the young victims to rest amid profound grief.
State Response and Condolences
Egyptian officials expressed deep condolences. In a statement released on June 28, First Lady Intisar el‑Sisi said: “Our hearts ache for my daughters, the victims of the tragic Monufia accident. We ask God to grant them mercy and the families patience and solace.”
Under her guidance, the Egyptian Red Crescent mobilised immediately to provide psychological and financial assistance to the bereaved families.
President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi also intervened directly: he ordered the government to raise compensation for victims. He further instructed repairs and safety upgrades along the regional ring road, including improved signage, clearer traffic rerouting around maintenance zones, and stricter speed enforcement measures.
Village in Mourning
In Kafr al-Sanabisa, families struggle with empty homes and harsh economic realities. The loss of so many lives in a single, preventable incident underscores the urgent need for safer infrastructure and social protections—lest more futures be cut short in the shadows of necessity.
