When Disaster Strikes: A Mother’s Sacrifice in Asyut
By Malak Khaled
The city of Dairut in Asyut has been in mourning for the past couple of days. On Sunday, December 8, fourteen people boarded a microbus. While the driver had parked and was waiting for more passengers, the microbus suddenly began moving backward and plunged into the Ibrahimiya Canal.
The story has since gone viral on social media. People were particularly moved by the heroic mother who miraculously saved her two daughters from the tragic fate that befell her.
The Power of Motherhood
The story of the accident is heartbreaking in many ways. One part will surely be remembered as a testament to motherhood and a mother’s unmatched ability to sacrifice herself for her children.
Sherihan Othman, a passenger who lost her life in the accident, managed to push both her daughters out of the microbus as it tumbled into the canal. While the other passengers were trying to claw their way out, she only cared about saving her girls. The mother’s selfless act and quick-thinking are the reason her two daughters are two of only four survivors.
Artwork Inspired by Sherihan Othman
People all over the internet are telling the heartbreaking tale of Sherihan. Artists have also taken to artwork to immortalize her story. The art captures the terror of that fateful moment and highlights the strength it took to throw her children out of a moving bus in order to save their lives.
Rescue Efforts and Survivors
The rescue teams quickly jumped into action. They were able to save four people before the microbus sunk to the bottom of the canal. One body has been retrieved, while the divers are still on the lookout for the other passengers’ corpses.
The speed of the current in the canal makes it extremely hard to comb through it. The Canal flow also forced the rescue teams to expand the search and include other canals branching off the main Ibrahimiya Canal.
Monetary Compensations
The governor of Asyut, Hesham Abo Elnasr, has issued a statement that the survivors and the families of the victims of the Dairut accident are to receive monetary compensation. The monetary compensation is 50 thousand for the death of the head of a household, 25 thousand for a dead family member, and five thousand for the wounded.
The unfortunate accident has sadly altered the lives of many in Dairut and will not be forgotten for years to come. The tale of Sherihan Othman will live in Asyut as a story of courage and sacrifice.
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