Sinai bus crash injures 23 Filipinos

The Philippine Embassy in Egypt, as well as the Filipino community in the area, has rendered assistance to the group in coordination with the travel agencies involved. #Sinaibuscrash

Fr. Marvin Mejia of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is among the injured Filipinos.

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday said 23 Filipinos and some Fil-Am tourists figured in a recent bus accident in Mount Sinai.

The accident happened near St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai on their way to the border crossing into Israel, according to DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez.

The DFA identified one of the injured as Fr. Marvin Mejia of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

On Friday night, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David relayed an official communication from CBCP President, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, who confirmed the accident and the death of one person, an American who was the husband of a Fil-Am tourist.

Valles also asked the public for prayers for those badly injured, including Fr. Mejia.

News of the accident spread on social media.

“As I mentioned before, the DFA was told that the group requested not to share information about the incident, but obviously well-meaning friends have shared information about the accident on social media,” Meñez said.

According to Meñez, many of the Filipinos who were part of the “Holy Land tour” will be returning to the Philippines in the next few days.

The extent of the injuries suffered by the victims ranged from bruises to broken bones, and most of them have been discharged from the hospital in Sharm-el-Sheik, he said.

Meanwhile, Meñez assured that the Philippine Embassy in Egypt, as well as the Filipino community in the area, has rendered assistance to the group in coordination with the travel agencies involved.

“Fr. Mejia and the rest of the group, particularly those who were injured, got help and assistance from the Apostolic Nunciature in Cairo, Egypt, especially that there is a Filipino priest there, Fr. Limchua, who is also from Cebu, working in that Apostolic Nunciature,” Meñez said.

“We are awaiting further notice. In the meantime, please offer prayers for Fr. Mejia and for those who were badly injured in that accident, and for the one who was killed,” he added.