Rescue efforts underway in deadly Egyptian ship sinking

[eric myers 2]

Last update: February 03, 2006 – 8:26 AM

Rescue efforts underway in deadly Egyptian ship sinking
Salah Nasrawi

CAIRO, Egypt — An Egyptian ferry carrying about 1,300 people sank in the Red Sea overnight during bad weather, and rescue ships arriving at the scene today pulled dozens of bodies from the water, an official said. About 100 survivors in lifeboats were rescued.
An Egyptian Embassy spokesman told the British Broadcasting Corp. that "dozens of bodies of victims" had been pulled from the choppy waters between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The 35-year-old ship, Al-Salaam Boccaccio 98, went down 40 miles off the Egyptian port of Hurghada, the head of the Egyptian Maritime Authority, Mahfouz Taha Marzouk, told The Associated Press. The cause was unknown.

Britain's top naval officer said he diverted the warship HMS Bulwark to the north Red Sea site, and it will arrive within two days.

An official at the maritime authority control room in Suez said at least 20 bodies had been pulled from the water, and 100 people in five lifeboats were rescued. The official spoke on condition of anonymity beacuse he was not authorized to speak to the press.