Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

Four dead, several missing in Egypt ferry crush
14 Oct 2007 19:55:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Recasts with revised death toll, governor statement)

CAIRO, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Egyptian rescue workers recovered four bodies and several people were missing on Sunday after a crush sent passengers boarding a ferry spilling into the Nile, the interior ministry said.

An unidentified ministry official told the official Middle East News Agency (MENA) the dead included three children.

Five other people were slightly injured in the accident in the province of Minya in central Egypt, some 200 km (120 miles) south of Cairo, he said.

Minya Governor Fouad Saadeddin said seven people were unaccounted for.

"The current was so strong, so bodies could have drifted away from the site of the accident," Saadeddin told Egyptian state-run television.

He said the final death toll would not be known until after the completion of rescue efforts, which were suspended once darkness fell. Several security officials said at least 10 people were missing.

MENA quoted Saadeddin as saying a large number of passengers were trying to get on the ferry when a ramp linking it to the river bank collapsed. Security officials said one of the boat's railings also collapsed, sending more people into the water.

One security official had earlier put the death toll at 10.

Television footage showed dozens of local residents gathered at the site watching police divers search for survivors.


AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article       Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.
Reset map

•  Egypt profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  Brown government disappoints on first test of AIDS commitment
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

•  Publications Update: a new newsletter from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

•  New International Health Partnership must build on AIDS accountability
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

•  Egyptian trade union organisation refused registration
Christian Aid - UK

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Four dead, several missing in Egypt ferry crush

•  At least 10 dead in Nile ferry accident

•  SOUTHERN AFRICA: Struggling with soaring cereal prices

•  Palestinian leader Abbas rejects talks with Hamas

•  Fatah rules out Hamas peace talks

MORE >>

Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Sun Oct 14 19:55:20 2007