The country’s official statistics agency says 14,700 road accidents took place in 2016.

:: A collision Saturday involving a minibus on a desert road 145 kilometres (90 miles) south of Cairo left 13 dead, the health ministry said.

The minibus crashed into a truck on the main road connecting the southern city of Beni Suef to Cairo. All those killed were on the bus, which was carrying 17 people.

That came just days after a crash on the same road also claimed 13 lives.

According to the World Health Organization, Egypt loses about 12,000 lives due to road traffic crashes every year. It has a road traffic fatality rate of 42 deaths per 100 000 population due to inadequate infrastructure, and poorly enforced traffic laws.

The country’s official statistics agency says 14,700 road accidents took place in 2016.