Fifty passengers travelling on a tourist bus from Cairo to the city of Luxor escaped unscathed after their bus caught fire on a highway in Beni Suef governorate, Al-Ahram news website reported.

The fire was caused by a short circuit in the vehicle's electrical system.

Egypt’s interior ministry reportedly sent alternative buses to pick up the tourists.

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt, with one government report putting the number of car accidents from 2008 to 2012 at approxiamtely 100,000. According to the report 33,000 people were killed and another 150,000 injured.

One deadly traffic accident in Beheira governorate in November killed 18 people.