Cairo - Fifty-one people were killed and six injured Sunday when their bus overturned and plunged into the al-Ibrahimeya canal in Upper Egypt, police said.

The bus was on its way from al-Meneya governorate, 240 kilometres south of Cairo, to Beni Soueif governorate 120 kilometres away when the driver lost control while trying to avoid a truck.

The 41-year-old driver, who survived, told police he had been trying to avoid hitting the truck which was travelling next to him, when it suddenly veered into his path. (dpa)