DISASTER AREA; WORKMEN AND DIVERS; RESCUE WORKERS HELPING SURVIVORS; BUS PULLED FROM WATER; BODIES CARRIED AWAY.




Initials PK/VS/AS/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AT LEAST 38 PEOPLE DIED WHEN A FULLY LOADED BUS PLUNGED INTO THE WATER OF THE NILE IN CAIRO, CAPITAL OF THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC, ON TUESDAY NIGHT (7 JANUARY). EYEWITNESSES SAID THE BUS HAD HIT A TREE AND FENCE AFTER THE DRIVER HAD SWERVED TO AVOID A SMALL CAR.

ONLY THE DRIVER AND FIVE OF THE SIX PASSENGERS WERE STANDING IN THE BUS SURVIVED.

THE CRASH OCCURRED NEAR THE FASHIONABLE GEZIRA SPORTING CLUB, WHILE THE BUS WAS ON ITS WAY FROM TAHRIR SQUARE, IN CENTRAL CAIRO, TO THE SUBURB OF IMBABA.

NAVY FROGMEN WERE CALLED IN TO HELP RECOVER THE BODIES. ARMY ENGINEERS USED CRANES TO PULL THE BUS FROM THE RIVER.

EIGHT OF THE BODIES WERE NOT RECOVERED UNTIL WEDNESDAY. DURING THE RESCUE OPERATION, ONE OF THE DIVERS IN THE RESCUE TEAM ALSO WAS DROWNED.

TWO YEARS AGO, 60 PEOPLE DIED WHEN A TROLLEY-BUS PLUNGED INTO THE NILE IN CAIRO.