Egypt river ferry capsizing death toll climbs to 10

Egypt’s labour ministry has confirmed that the death toll of a passenger ferry capsizing that occurred in the Nile River earlier this week has now risen to 10 following the recovery of seven additional bodies.

The cause of the capsizing near the city of Giza on Sunday, February 25, is still being investigated, though one eyewitness had said that the vessel was overloaded.

The bodies of all ten deceased victims were recovered in a search operation that lasted into Monday, February 26. This total includes three victims who were found within hours of the incident.

Only five of the ferry’s 15 occupants were rescued. The survivors were later brought to hospital and have since been discharged.

The vessel’s passengers at the time of the incident consisted of day labourers who were commuting to a construction site.

The labour ministry added that compensation will be allocated with the equivalent of US$646 to be given to each of the five injured survivors and the equivalent of US$6,466 going to the family of each of the 10 deceased victims.

Authorities in Giza said the ferry’s owner has been taken into custody and will be imprisoned for four days as part of the investigation into the tragedy.

Charges that have been filed against the owner include manslaughter and operating a vessel without a licence.