5 die as ferryboat sinks in northern Egypt

CAIRO

Five people drowned on Sunday when a ferryboat sank in northern Egypt, according to the official MENA news agency.

The ferry sank in the Nile River as it was carrying passengers from the Nile Delta province of Menoufiya to the northern Beheira province, MENA said.

Twenty other people were reportedly rescued.

A statement by the Beheira security directorate cited “overload” as the cause of the accident.

The official Al Ahram newspaper, citing a statement issued by the Beheira governor’s office, said security forces had arrested the ferry owner and his son.

According to the newspaper, the ferryboat was allowed to carry only 8 people.

Egyptians use ferryboats to move between the two banks of the Nile River.