Egypt: A maritime barge capsizes in the Suez Gulf, resulting in 4 deaths and dozens of injuries

SadaNews - At least four people were killed and around 20 others were injured on Tuesday in the incident of a maritime barge capsizing in the Suez Gulf, according to what the Egyptian authorities announced on Wednesday.

 

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources stated via its Facebook page that it received a report from the "Osuko" company regarding the capsizing incident of the maritime barge "Adam Marine 12" in the Zait Mountain area of the Suez Gulf, northeast of Egypt, about 250 kilometers from the entrance to the Suez Canal. The ministry did not provide any information about the cause of the capsizing.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health clarified that four injured individuals were airlifted and 18 others were transported by ambulances to the El Gouna Hospital, while the bodies of four deceased were transferred to the Hurghada General Hospital.

It noted that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, along with the Ministers of Petroleum and Manpower, are following up on the developments of the incident.

The Suez Canal is a vital waterway connecting Europe and Asia via the Red Sea. Before the outbreak of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea in 2023, which they declared in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, nearly 12% of global maritime trade passed through the canal.

This incident also brings to mind the incident of the giant container ship "Ever Given" which crashed into the eastern bank of the canal in 2021, causing it to be closed for six days and significantly disrupting global trade.