40 kids dead in Egypt train-bus collision

Cairo : At least 47 people, including 40 school children, were killed in Egypt Saturday when a train collided with the bus in which the pupils were travelling, media reports said.

The crash took place around 8 a.m. in southern Egypt’s Asyut governorate, Xinhua reported citing Ahram online.

At least 13 other people were injured and admitted to hospital, the health ministry said.

Asyut Governor Yahya Kishk offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He said the government would provide compensation to the injured and the dead. He also ordered an investigation.

Paying his condolences to the victims’ families, President Mohamed Morsi vowed to punish those responsible for the accident and wished the quick recovery of the injured.

Morsi asked Prime Minister Hesham Gandil to provide all necessary aid and treatment.

Minister of Transportation Mohamed Rashad el-Matini has submitted his resignation to Morsi, the official MENA news agency reported.

The worst accident in Egypt’s 150-year history of railways was caused by a fire in February 2002, in which more than 300 people were killed.

Earlier this month, two trains collided in Faiyum governorate, 85 km from the capital Cairo, killing four and injuring 30.