At least 18 people, many of them children, have died after a pick-up truck carrying agricultural labourers crashed in Egypt on Tuesday. The accident occurred on a link road in the Al-Dawawis area of Ismailia governorate, according to Egypt’s Al-Ahram news.

The Ministry of Health reported a total of 47 casualties, including approximately 30 injured individuals, who were transported to Al-Qassasin Specialized Hospital. A medical source at the hospital indicated that most of the deceased were between 13 and 14 years old, with the youngest victim being 10 years old.

Most of the workers were reportedly from two villages in Sharqiya governorate and were employed on a farm in Ismailia. Local security sources confirmed this information. The use of pick-up trucks is a common transportation method for informal workers in Egypt to commute to their jobs.

In response to the tragedy, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Labour have announced that financial assistance will be provided to the families of those who perished and to the injured workers.

Child labour remains a significant issue in Egypt. Official figures indicate that at least 1.3 million minors are engaged in child labour. The country has also seen an increase in road fatalities and injuries, with the state statistics agency reporting a rise of over 10 percent. Children under the age of 15 have recorded the highest toll from such incidents.

This incident highlights the precarious working conditions faced by many young people in Egypt's agricultural sector. The use of overloaded vehicles for transporting workers, particularly children, is a known risk that contributes to the country's high rate of road traffic accidents.

Experts in child rights have repeatedly warned about the dangers associated with child labour, especially in hazardous environments like farms. The lack of adequate safety regulations and enforcement often leaves these young workers vulnerable to exploitation and severe risks, including fatal accidents.

The government's promised financial assistance aims to mitigate the immediate impact on the affected families. However, the long-term implications and the effectiveness of the investigation in preventing future occurrences remain key questions for the nation.