At least 55 people have been killed after a bus ran off the road and plunged into a canal south of Cairo, Egypt's capital, officials say.

Between 60-70 people were riding in the overloaded bus on Sunday, in the province of Minya.

Ahmed Diaa, the governor of Minya, said the bus swerved to avoid an oncoming lorry, but the state news agency said the driver had lost control of the bus while attempting to overtake another vehicle.

Police divers and volunteers were searching the canal for more bodies.

Diaa told state-run television that 57 people had died in the accident, but AFP new agency, citing an official, reported 55 bodies were recovered.

The bus was travelling on a narrow road when it veered off the road into the Ibrahimiya Canal, near the village of Bahrut about 200 kilometres from Cairo.

Accidents common

On Monday, fifteen students were killed when a bus overturned on its way from Minya to Alexandria.

Egyptian roads are considered highly dangerous, with thousands of accidents every year. Regulations are not fully enforced and vehicles are badly cared for.

About 6,000 people die and 30,000 are injured in road accidents in Egypt annually.