Khaberni - The village of El-Bostan in Damietta province is still under the pall of sadness, after the death of 5 girls in a tragic accident during a festive tour for Eid al-Fitr.
The incident occurred when a horse-drawn cart carrying 11 girls on a traditional Eid tour overturned into a water canal.
The locals immediately rushed to try to save the children, but their efforts were not successful, resulting in the death of 5 girls and the injury of two others, who were transferred to the Damietta General and Specialized Hospital to receive necessary treatment.
The river rescue teams managed to recover four bodies in the early hours, before finding the fifth body later on.
The village witnessed solemn funerals attended by hundreds from the village and neighboring villages, amid an atmosphere of crying and mourning for the girls who had hoped to spend enjoyable time away from daily routine.
Social media users shared poignant scenes from the funeral proceedings, showing the families of the victims in total collapse; one mother was seen embracing her daughter's clothes and crying intensely, while a brother of one of the girls called out to her in disbelief at losing her on the first day of Eid.
Reasons for the accident
According to the residents' accounts, the cart driver was driving recklessly, which led to the cart slipping and losing control, and falling into the water canal.
The depth of the water and the rapid flipping of the cart prevented the locals from saving all the children, continuing the tragedy of the accident.
The security authorities continue their efforts to uncover the circumstances of the accident, where the driver of the cart was summoned and witness statements were taken to determine the precise reasons behind the catastrophe that claimed the lives of five girls aged between 10 and 12 years old, according to local newspapers.
