19 killed in Egypt as buses plunge into canal

Cairo - Nineteen people were killed and 15 injured when two minibuses plunged into an irrigation canal in southern Egypt early on Tuesday, a health ministry official said.

Shortly before dawn, the drivers of the two buses - travelling at speed and packed with guests returning home from a wedding - lost control because of a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, a security official said.

Both buses then plunged into the canal in the tourist province of Luxor, the security official said, adding that all the victims of the accident were Egyptian.

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt where roads are often poorly maintained and traffic regulations little enforced.

On Friday, a collision between two coaches servicing the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh killed 33 people and injured 41.