Minibus overturns and plunges into ditch in Egypt as steering wheel fault kills 21 and injures six 

At least 21 people were killed and six injured in Egypt on Saturday when a minibus overturned and plunged into a ditch in the Nile Delta, the country’s health ministry said.

The minibus had been driving in the northern Dakahlia province, the ministry said. 

Dr Sherif Makeen, a health ministry official, said three children were among the dead. 

Egyptian media outlets reported the accident was caused by a malfunctioning steering wheel, although no further details have been confirmed at this time.

A bus crash in northern Egypt has killed at least 21 people, three of them children

Some of those inside the bus at the time try and help others to safety while the vehicle was still submerged

The vehicle was badly damaged in the incident, which is said to have been caused by a fault with the steering wheel

The bus was carrying at least 27 people at the time of the crash, an rescue efforts are still underway

The bus is said to have been badly damaged and its windows shattered during the crash.

Police cordoned off the site as a crowd gathered to watch the rescue efforts.

Images show a red and white bus almost vertical as it was hauled from the ditch, which was full of water at the time of the crash.

Dozens of people lined the road next to the incident as rescue efforts continued.

Other photos from the scene show some of those who escaped the vehicle standing on top of the bus, which is completely underwater. 

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt where roads are often poorly maintained and driving rules flouted.

In 2021, around 7,000 people were killed on the roads of the Arab world’s most populous country, according to official figures.

In July, 25 people died and 35 were injured in central Egypt when a bus crashed into a truck parked on the side of the road.

Today’s accident occurred around 62 miles to the north of the capital, Cairo.