Major road crash leaves 18 dead, 3 injured in northeast Egypt
Al Jazeera
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A major road crash in Egypt’s northeastern Port Said province has left 18 people dead and three others injured. The incident occurred on the 30 June Axis highway when a pickup truck carrying fishermen collided with a large cargo truck. The collision, which happened around 12:30pm local time on Thursday, resulted in the pickup being crushed between two heavy trucks, according to reports from Al-Ahram newspaper and The Associated Press (AP). Survivors are receiving medical treatment, while public prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the causes of the accident.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Egypt, often linked to speeding, poor road conditions, and lax enforcement of traffic laws. This tragedy highlights the ongoing issues with road safety in the country, where deadly crashes involving trucks and passenger vehicles are not uncommon. In a recent example, a similar incident in June 2019 resulted in the deaths of 19 people, mostly teenage girls.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly expressed his condolences over the loss of life and ordered financial assistance for the families of the deceased and injured. He is reportedly monitoring the situation through updates from the governor of Port Said province. The incident occurred while Madbouly was attending a peace conference in Washington, DC.
This latest crash underscores the urgent need for improved road safety measures in Egypt. While traffic accidents are a global issue, they disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries like Egypt, where infrastructure and enforcement challenges exacerbate risks. Deadly collisions often involve trucks and
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/20/2026