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Egyptian ship carrying 1,300 people sinks in Red Sea
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-03 19:41
CAIRO, Egypt - An Egyptian passenger ship carrying 1,300 people has sunk in
the Red Sea, the head of the Egyptian Maritime Authority, Mahfouz Taha Marzouk,
said Friday.
A hand-out
photograph shows the Egyptian ferry Al Salam 89 which has disappeared in
the Red Sea, according to an Egyptian health ministry official, February
3, 2006. [Reuters] | The ship, "Salaam 98," sunk 40 miles off the Egyptian port of Hurghada,
Marzouk said.
Helicopters have spotted bodies as well as one lifeboat carrying three people
in the vicinity of where the 25-year-old ship was last seen on the radar
screens, Egyptian maritime officials said. They did not say how many bodies were
sighted.
Four Egyptian frigates have sailed to rescue survivors, Egypt's minister of
transport, Mohammed Lutfy Mansour, told CNN shortly before the sinking of the
ship was announced.
"The Coast Guard is doing every in its power to try to rescue these people,"
Mansour said.
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