A ferryboat carrying day workers sank in the Nile River just outside Cairo (Egypt's capital), resulting in the tragic loss of at least 10 lives out of the 15 individuals onboard, authorities reported on Monday, February 26.
The Ministry of Manpower stated in a release that the 5 survivors were promptly transported to a hospital for medical attention and were later discharged. The exact cause of the sinking remains unclear at this time.
To address the aftermath of the incident, the ministry has provided compensation of 200,000 Egyptian pounds (~US$6,466) to each family of the deceased and EGP 20,000 (Egyptian pounds/~USD 646) to each of the 5 injured individuals.
The laborers were en route to their workplace at a local construction firm when the ferry sank. Local media outlets, streaming live on social media platforms, captured the rescue operation which spanned hours as divers searched for the deceased while villagers anxiously awaited on the Nile banks.
The tragic event unfolded in the town of Monshat el-Kanater in Giza, one of three provinces comprising Greater Cairo.
Boat transportation is a common mode of travel for many Egyptians, particularly in regions such as Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta. Cruising along the Nile is also a popular recreational activity during holidays in the Arab world's most populous nation.
Ferry, railway, and road accidents are prevalent in Egypt due to factors such as inadequate maintenance and insufficient regulatory measures.
In a similar incident in 2022, two individuals lost their lives and eight went missing after a small truck slid off a ferry and plunged into the Nile. Additionally, in 2015, a collision between a passenger boat and a scow on the Nile resulted in the tragic deaths of 35 people.