Story of the Egypt Ferry Accident

On February 6, 2010, a ferry carrying about 1,300 people sank in the Red Sea, killing at least 22 people and leaving hundreds more missing. The ferry, named Al-Nasr Al-Saudi, was on its way from Duba in Saudi Arabia to Safaga in Egypt, a popular route for Egyptian workers and pilgrims returning from Mecca. The cause of the accident is still unclear, but some survivors reported that a fire broke out in the engine room and spread to the rest of the ship.

The sinking of the ferry was one of the worst maritime disasters in Egypt’s history, and it exposed the negligence and corruption of the ferry company and the authorities. Many relatives of the victims accused the company of operating an old and unsafe vessel that did not have enough lifeboats or fire extinguishers. They also blamed the government for delaying the rescue operation and failing to provide accurate information about the fate of their loved ones.

The following is a reconstruction of the events that led to the tragedy, based on eyewitness accounts, official statements and media reports.

The Departure

The Al-Nasr Al-Saudi ferry was scheduled to leave Duba at 7 pm on February 5, but it was delayed for several hours due to bad weather and technical problems. Some passengers complained that the ship was overcrowded and poorly maintained, and that they were not given any safety instructions or life jackets. Others said they were happy to board the ship, as it was cheaper and faster than flying or taking a bus.

The ferry finally departed at around 11 pm, carrying 1,310 passengers and crew members, as well as 220 vehicles. Most of the passengers were Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia, who were returning home for a holiday or after finishing their contracts. Some were also pilgrims who had performed the hajj or umrah in Mecca. There were also a few Saudis, Sudanese and Yemenis on board.

The journey across the Red Sea was expected to take about 18 hours, but it turned out to be much shorter and much more tragic.

The Fire

According to some survivors, the first sign of trouble came at around 2 am on February 6, when they heard a loud explosion and saw smoke coming from the engine room. They said that some crew members tried to put out the fire with water hoses, but they were unsuccessful. The fire soon spread to other parts of the ship, causing panic and chaos among the passengers.

Some passengers said that they tried to alert the captain and ask him to stop the ship and send a distress signal, but they were ignored or told to calm down. They said that the captain did not announce any emergency procedures or order an evacuation. Instead, he continued sailing at full speed, hoping to reach Safaga before the ship sank.

Other passengers said that they did not hear any explosion or see any smoke, and that they only realized something was wrong when they felt the ship tilting and sinking. They said that they did not receive any warning or guidance from the crew members, who seemed to be confused and scared themselves.

The Sinking

As the fire raged on and the ship started to list heavily to one side, some passengers managed to find lifeboats or jump into the water. However, many others were trapped inside their cabins or on the lower decks, where they suffocated from the smoke or drowned as water flooded in.

Some survivors said that they saw people fighting over lifeboats or pushing each other off them. Others said that they saw people helping each other or praying together. Some said that they heard screams and cries for help from those who were left behind.

The ship sank at around 4 am, about 60 miles (100 km) off the coast of Egypt. It took less than two hours for it to disappear completely under water.

The Rescue

The first distress signal from the ferry was received by an Egyptian naval base at around 2:30 am. However, due to poor communication and coordination between different authorities and agencies, it took several hours for rescue teams to arrive at the scene.

The first rescue boat reached the site at around 6 am, followed by helicopters and planes. They found hundreds of people floating in the water, some clinging to lifeboats or debris, others dead or unconscious. They also found bodies floating on the surface or submerged under water.

The rescue operation lasted for several days, but it faced many challenges and difficulties. The weather was bad, with strong winds and high waves. The water was cold, causing hypothermia and shock. The area was large, making it hard to locate and identify the survivors and the victims. The resources were limited, with not enough boats, helicopters, divers or medical staff.

The rescue operation also faced criticism and controversy. Some survivors and relatives of the victims accused the rescuers of being slow, inefficient and indifferent. They said that they did not receive enough assistance or information from the authorities. They also said that some of the rescue boats refused to pick up survivors or demanded money from them.

The authorities defended their actions and denied any wrongdoing. They said that they did their best to save as many lives as possible, despite the harsh conditions and the lack of cooperation from the ferry company. They also said that they provided adequate support and compensation to the survivors and the families of the victims.

The Aftermath

The ferry accident shocked and saddened the Egyptian public and the international community. It also raised many questions and demands for accountability and justice.

The Egyptian government launched an investigation into the cause and responsibility of the accident. It also announced a series of measures to improve the safety and regulation of maritime transport in the country.

The ferry company, Al-Salam Maritime, was accused of negligence and corruption. It was found that the ship was old, overloaded and poorly maintained. It was also found that the company had a history of accidents and violations, but it had escaped punishment or scrutiny due to its connections with powerful politicians and businessmen.

The owner of the company, Mamdouh Ismail, a member of parliament’s upper house, fled Egypt after the accident, along with his son Amr, a top executive in the company. They were later sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison for manslaughter and corruption.

The captain of the ferry, Sayed Omar Abdel-Rahman, was also sentenced to seven years in prison for negligence and failing to protect the passengers. He claimed that he did not know about the fire until it was too late, and that he tried to save the ship by sailing towards Safaga.

The captain of another ship, Al-Salam 95, which was sailing nearby when the ferry sank, was sentenced to six months in prison for failing to help the stricken ferry. He claimed that he did not receive any distress signal from the ferry, and that he did not see any survivors or bodies in the water.

The survivors and relatives of the victims received some compensation from the government and the insurance company, but many of them said that it was not enough to cover their losses or ease their pain. They also said that they wanted more than money; they wanted justice and closure.

They held protests and vigils to demand answers and accountability from those who were responsible for the accident. They also filed lawsuits against the ferry company and its owners, seeking damages and punishment.

They also formed associations and groups to support each other and commemorate their loved ones. They organized memorials and ceremonies to honour those who died in the accident. They also erected monuments and plaques to remember those who were lost at sea.

Conclusion

The Egypt ferry accident was a tragedy that could have been prevented or minimized if proper safety standards and procedures had been followed by those who were in charge of operating and regulating maritime transport in the country.

It was also a tragedy that exposed the corruption and injustice that plagued Egyptian society at that time, where some people enjoyed privileges and immunity at the expense of others who suffered poverty and oppression.

It was also a tragedy that inspired solidarity and activism among some Egyptians who demanded change and reform in their country, paving the way for a popular uprising that toppled a long-standing dictatorship a year later.

The Egypt ferry accident was a tragedy that left a lasting mark on Egypt’s history and memory.

References

– BBC News (2006). Anger at Egyptian ferry verdict. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7527652.stm

– BBC News (2006). Relatives attack sunk ferry firm. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4684976.stm

– The Guardian (2006). 1,000 feared dead as ferry sinks in Red Sea. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/04/topstories3.egypt

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