Safaga ferryboat passengers rescued

Egyptian Naval forces on Sunday rescued 37 passengers who were on board a ferryboat when it suddenly ran aground some 10 nautical miles off Safaga harbor.

In statements on Sunday, Red Sea Harbors Authority Media Spokesman Abdel Rehim Motsafa said a cargo ship named "Taba" was en route from Safaga harbor to the Saudi port of Dhaba with 43 cargo trucks and 39 passengers, including 10 drivers, as well as the crew members.

Mostafa also said the ferryboat started to tilt all of a sudden mainly because the drivers of the trucks have queued the trucks on one side of the ferry causing it to tilt to one side.

The ship sent a distress call to the Naval Base in Safaga and rescue ships were immediately sent to the location of the ferryboat and rescued all the passengers, with no injuries reported.

Red Sea Harbors Authority formed an operation room to follow up the developments of the accident.