Kathmandu— At least 18 people were killed and approximately 30 injured when a pick-up truck transporting agricultural laborers crashed in the Al-Dawawis area of Egypt’s Ismailia governorate on Tuesday. The victims, primarily from two villages in Sharqiya governorate, were en route to work on a farm in Ismailia, and a medical source at a local hospital confirmed that many of those killed were children aged 13 and 14, with the youngest victim being only 10 years old.

Details of the Crash

The crash occurred on a link road within the Ismailia governorate, as reported by Egypt’s Al-Ahram news outlet. Emergency services responded to the scene and transported a total of 47 casualties – including the deceased and injured – to hospitals in the nearby town of El-Kassasin for treatment.

Child Labor Concerns

The high number of child fatalities has brought renewed attention to the issue of child labor within Egypt. Official figures indicate that at least 1.3 million minors are currently engaged in child labor across the country, highlighting a persistent social and economic challenge. The victims were primarily young agricultural workers traveling to their jobs, utilizing pick-up trucks – a common mode of transport for informal laborers.

Government Response

Following the incident, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Both the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Labour have pledged to provide financial assistance to the families of those killed and to support injured workers. This commitment aims to alleviate some of the immediate hardship caused by the tragedy.

Rising Road Fatalities

Egypt has seen a concerning increase in road fatalities and injuries recently, with state statistics indicating a rise of over 10 percent. Children under the age of 15 are disproportionately affected by these incidents, representing the highest toll among all age groups.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash and provide support to those impacted by this tragic event.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.