A ferryboat sunk in the Nile river in Cairo’s twin city Giza on Wednesday leaving 15 passengers dead, while six injured passengers were rescued, the Interior Ministry said.
The Health Ministry meanwhile added that two children were among those killed. The youngest child killed is reported to have been just one-year-old, reported Al-Ahram.
“A barge collided” with the ferryboat, “shattering” the latter, the ministry cited a security source as saying in a statement issued on its Facebook page.
The captain of the barge, “who caused the accident” and his assistant were arrested, the security source added.
According to AFP, the family and friends of a young couple had hired the boat to celebrate their recent engagement. However, it is unclear whether the young couple were among those killed.
A Giza health official said a state of emergency has been declared in hospitals in Giza, in case the number of casualties is high.
In March, a private company bus carrying workers fell off the ring road and into a canal branching from the Nile river, leaving a dozen dead.
Article by Aswat Masriya, edited by Egyptian Streets
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