In a horrific accident, at least 35 people were killed and more than 50 others injured on Saturday at an Egyptian highway. The accident involved a?collisio between a bus and several cars, state media reported.

"A horrific collision on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road near Wadi al-Natrun led to the death of 35 people, at least 18 of whom burnt to death," said Al-Ahram news website, indicating "at least 53 were injured".

Several images have surfaced on social media which showed an overturned lorry lying across the fast lane on charred tarmac.

Crowds of people can be seen standing by the road, gazing at the crash site as alongside queues of cars as thick black smoke spirals into the air.

Official figures say 7,000 people were killed in road accidents in 2021 in the Arab world's most populous country.