Cargo Ship sinks in Egypt’s Red Sea, Passengers saved

A cargo ship sunk Sunday in Egypt’s Red Sea, shortly after departing Safaga Port on its way to Saudi Arabia. Naval forces managed to save all 37 crew and passengers onboard the ship, a Red Sea Ports spokesman told state news agency MENA.

The ship, named Taba and carrying cargo as well as trucks, sank because the trucks were parked mainly on one side, which caused the ship to tilt and start sinking, spokesman Abdel-Rehim Mostafa stated.

Mostafa added that the crew sent SOS signals to the naval base in Safaga port and rescue ships were immediately dispatched to help the stranded passengers and crew.

No one was injured.

In December 2014, a collision between an Egyptian fishing boat and a Jeddah-bound Kuwaiti container ship in the Red Sea resulted in the death of 25.

In February 2006, the country witnessed one of its worst naval disasters, when the Egyptian El-Salam 98 ferry, heading from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, sank, killing at least 1000 people.

source: Ahram Online