Egypt follows deadly overturning incident of vehicle carrying Egyptians in Libya

CAIRO – 19 September 2024: Egypt is closely following an overturning incident of a vehicle carrying Egyptians in Derna city, Libya, which resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a Thursday announcement.

A bus carrying 26 individuals, all Egyptians, overturned on the Desert Road in Derna, eastern Libya, on Wednesday. The incident led to the tragic loss of 11 lives and left 15 others injured, Cairo 24 news website quoted Osama Ali, spokesperson for the Tripoli ambulance service, as saying.

Of the injured, two individuals were admitted to the intensive care unit due to the severity of their conditions. Five others sustained fractures, while seven suffered minor injuries and were discharged from the hospital after receiving medical care, Ali added.

Ali confirmed that the individuals on board the bus were undocumented migrants, and the driver, also Egyptian, was apprehended.

In response to the situation, Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, has instructed the consular department within the ministry and the Consulate General of Egypt in Benghazi to maintain communication with Libyan authorities regarding the incident.

Abdelatty has also directed the provision of necessary care for the injured and ensuring the swift repatriation of the bodies of the victims following the completion of required procedures.

The foreign ministry expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, offering prayers for the deceased and strength for their loved ones.

Over the past decade, Egypt has been diligently combating illegal migration and implemented a national strategy from 2016 to 2026 to prevent and address this issue, introducing strict penalties for human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Since then, the country has been actively working to prevent boats carrying undocumented migrants from departing Egyptian shores.