9 children killed as tricycle plunges into a canal in Egypt

This is a locator map for Egypt with its capital, Cairo. (AP Photo)

CAIRO — A motorized tricycle plunged into a canal in southern Egypt on Tuesday, killing nine children and injuring two others, local officials said.

The tricycle fell into the water in the area of Abu Tig in the southern province of Assiut, according to a statement the governor’s office posted on Facebook. Assiut, located 320 kilometres (199 miles) south of the capital, Cairo, is a province in Upper Egypt known for historic landmarks.

Local media reported that a steering malfunction caused the tricycle to overturn as it carried children returning home from work on nearby farms. The conditions of those injured were unclear. The bodies were taken to Abu Tig Hospital, according to the governor’s office.

Local news outlet Cairo 24 said the children’s ages ranged from 10 to 17.

Photos posted by the governor’s office showed dozens of people gathered at the canal as people in divers’ gear searched the water.

Assiut Gov. Mohamed Elwan ordered authorities to implement safety measures, including the installation of concrete barriers along the sides of the canal.

Deadly traffic accidents claim thousands of lives every year in Egypt, which has a poor transportation safety record. Speeding, bad roads and poor enforcement of traffic laws are the main reasons for crashes. Earlier this year, a truck and a pickup truck collided on a highway, killing 18 people, officials said.

The Associated Press