Hundreds feared dead in Egypt migrant boat capsize
Online Desk
22 Sep 2016 10:19 AM । Update: 22 Sep 2016 23:48 PM
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Survivors from a boat which capsized off the Egyptian coast on Wednesday said that hundreds of people may have drowned.
The boat was carrying about 550 migrants when it capsized eight miles (12km) off the coast, they say, reports BBC.
Authorities have rescued 163 people and recovered 42 bodies so far off the port city of Rosetta.
Four crew members have been arrested in connection with incident, Egyptian officials said.
They are suspected of involuntary manslaughter and human trafficking, judicial officials were reported as saying.
The incident came after the EU's border agency warned that increasing numbers of Europe-bound migrants are using Egypt as a departure point.
The boat was kept off the coast for five days as more and more migrants were brought on board, survivors said. Just over 100 of those rescued were Egyptians.
Migrants were charged extra if they wanted to wear life jackets, she reports.
The boat is said to have capsized after a final group of some 150 people were crammed on board.
Authorities have been accused of failing to send help fast enough.
