A pick-up truck ferrying agricultural workers to a farm in Egypt's Ismailia governorate overturned on Tuesday, killing at least 18 people — most of them children aged 13 and 14, according to a medical source. The crash on a link road in the Al-Dawawis area has reignited scrutiny over the country's informal transport practices and the prevalence of child labour in agriculture. Main Developments Egypt's Ministry of Health reported 47 casualties in total, including roughly 30 injured. Victims were rushed to Al-Qassasin Specialized Hospital in the nearby town of El-Kassasin, where relatives gathered for news. Most of the dead were children, with the youngest victim just 10 years old, a hospital source told AFP. The workers came predominantly from two villages in Sharqiya governorate and were employed on a farm in Ismailia, according to a local security source. Read also: Why 2.4 Million Afghan Girls Are Being Left Behind President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered an investigation into the accident. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Labour announced financial assistance for the families of the deceased and for injured workers. Background Pick-up trucks remain a ubiquitous mode of transport for Egypt's informal workforce, often overloaded with labourers heading to farms or construction sites. Official figures indicate at least 1.3 million minors are engaged in child labour nationwide, many in agriculture. Road safety in Egypt has deteriorated markedly, with the state statistics agency recording a rise of more than 10 percent in road fatalities and injuries. Children under 15 have suffered the highest toll in these incidents, underscoring the vulnerability of young workers. Why It Matters The tragedy highlights the deadly intersection of unsafe transport and child labour in rural Egypt. With pick-up trucks serving as a lifeline for informal workers, the lack of regulation puts thousands of minors at risk daily. The high child death toll also raises urgent questions about enforcement of labour laws and road safety standards. Financial aid for victims' families is a stopgap, but the incident pressures authorities to address the systemic issues: overloading, inadequate vehicle safety, and the pervasive employment of children in hazardous agricultural work. What's Next The presidential investigation will likely focus on the cause of the crash and whether safety protocols were violated. Meanwhile, the affected families await the promised compensation, and the broader public may see renewed calls for stricter enforcement of child labour bans and vehicle safety regulations.