PANA quoted Egypt's official news agency MENA as reporting that the four women and five children drowned when their pick-up truck fell off the ferry into the river.
Ferries are a common mode of transportation south of Cairo, used to traverse the banks of the Nile River.
Cars and trucks are often driven onto the ferries for use on the other side of the river, but the poor quality of ferries and weight of vehicles have become a problem in recent times.
Approximately 6,000 people are killed on Egypt's roads and highways annually, according to government statistics.
Poor road conditions, out-of-control driving and failure to use seatbelts are often given as reasons for the high number of accident casualities.
The government plans to reduce the rate of accidents by imposing heavy fines on traffic offenders and the phasing out of ricketty old vehicles, through a new legislation, to come into effect as from next year.
Cairo - 24/07/2008
Pana
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