Award winning author and artist Niki Marangou died on Thursday in a car accident in Egypt. She was one of three passengers in a car driven by a local man who crashed under unknown circumstances just off Faiyum, south west of the capital Cairo. One other woman has died, and another woman was injured. Marangou was the only Cypriot passenger in the car.
Marangou was born in Limassol in 1948 and studied sociology in Germany before working as a dramaturge at the Cyprus Theatre Organisation as well as managing her own bookshop. She was an active author and artist and was respected for her intellectual depth, continuous learning, and her interest in inspiring younger generations of women.
"We have lost a wonderful person," foreign minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said.
"Her death is truly a tragedy."
Marcoullis said authorities in Egypt had ruled out criminal intent with regards to the accident, but Egyptian police had not as of Friday afternoon filed a report.
Marangou's family were due to travel to Egypt today.
