New Delhi, July 1 -- A motorized tricycle plunged into a canal in southern Egypt on Tuesday, killing nine children and injuring two others, local officials said.

The tricycle fell into the water in the area of Abu Tig in the southern province of Assiut, according to a statement the governor's office posted on Facebook. Assiut, located 320 kilometers (199 miles) south of the capital, Cairo, is a province in Upper Egypt known for historic landmarks.

Local media reported that a steering malfunction caused the tricycle to overturn as it carried children returning home from work on nearby farms. The conditions of those injured were unclear. The bodies were taken to Abu Tig Hospital, according to the governor's office.

Local news outlet Cair...