Boat capsize off Egypt: Toll mounts to 42

At least 42 people were drowned, after a boat carrying over 600 illegal migrants capsized off the Egyptian coast, 140 km north of Cairo, on Wednesday. The boat carrying Egyptian, Syrian and African migrants capsized off the coast of Kafr al-Sheikh. In a statement, the health ministry said that at least 42 people had drowned.

Around 158 people have been rescued so far and a serch is on to save more survivors. About 400 could still be missing.

There were no details about the destination of the boat, although officials said it was probably heading for Italy.

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said all resources possible would be directed into the rescue mission and that those responsible had to be brought to justice.

The incident comes two days after Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said at a UN meeting that “illegal immigration” should be at the top of international priorities. He had affirmed that Egypt would combat illegal immigration through updating already existing anti-human trafficking legislation, underlining that the government is currently working on finalising legalisation to combat illegal emigration from the country.

Meanwhile, at least 14 people, including five woman and a child, were killed and many others remained missing, after a overloaded boat capsized in south-central Bangladesh on Wednesday. 

There were over 50 people on board the boat, when it capsized in Sandya river amid strong 

currents.