Freighter hits fishing boat in Gulf of Suez; thirteen dead
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
A freighter hit a fishing boat around midnight on Sunday morning in the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea. Of the 40 Egyptian fisherman on board, thirteen are dead and thirteen more missing.
Survivor Al Sayyed Mohamed Arafat told local media he jumped from the fishing boat, named Badr al-Islam, as the container ship approached. He says he hung onto a wooden crate for four hours before rescue. Local authorities have promised compensation to each survivor.
A vessel, flagged in Panama, suspected to be involved in the collision has been detained by the military. The army said yesterday one victim raised the alarm by phone and the military sent four boats and a helicopter to commence search and rescue off the Gabal al-Zayt coastline.
A plane has since joined the search. The military say the fishing boat lacked safety equipment for emergency communications.
The detained ship was found south of the Gulf, near the port of Safaga. It was carrying 220 tonnes of cargo according to the General Authority for the Red Sea Ports.
Sources
- Adham Youssef. "Military reveals investigation findings of Rea Sea collision" — Daily News Egypt, December 15, 2014
- AFP. "Accident in Suez Gulf kills 13 Egypt fishermen" — Times of Oman, December 14, 2014
- Aswat Masriya. "13 fishermen killed, 14 missing after boat crash in Egypt" — Egyptian Streets, December 14, 2014