Egypt bus crash kills dozens of children

Up to 47 children, aged four to six, killed after bus carrying them to kindergarten collides with speeding train

guardian.co.uk, Barry Neild and agencies, Saturday 17 November 2012

Egyptians search for survivors and remains in the wreckage of the bus
and train crash. Photograph: Mamdouh Thabet/AP

Up to 47 children have been killed in southern Egypt after the bus carrying them to kindergarten collided with a speeding train.

The crash is believed to have happened when the bus, carrying more than 50 children aged between four and six, drove across a railway line.

"They told us the barriers were open when the bus crossed the tracks and the train collided with it," Dr Mohamed Samir said, citing witness accounts.

A witness said the train pushed the bus along the tracks for nearly half a mile near Manfalut, a village near Assiut, more than 200 miles south of Cairo.

Two hospital officials said between seven and 11 wounded were being treated in two different facilities, many with severed limbs. Accounts of the death toll varied between 38 and 47.

Families of the children joined the search for survivors and bodies after the collision but a reporter at the scene said many of the remains were unrecognisable.

"My children! I didn't feed you before you left," said Um Ibrahim, a mother of three. One man picked up a body screaming: "Only God can help!"

The state news agency Mena reported that Egypt's transport minister, Mohammed el-Meteeni, had offered his resignation to President Mohammed Morsi. The agency said Morsi ordered an investigation into the accident and said those responsible would be held accountable.

Egypt's railway system has a poor safety record. The railway's worst disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.