Four individuals have died and 22 others sustained injuries after a barge capsized in the Gulf of Suez, the Egyptian government confirmed on Wednesday.
The vessel, identified as the Adam Marine 12, sank on Tuesday night, according to a statement from the health ministry. The ministry did not provide specific details regarding the cause of the capsizing.
The four fatalities were transported to Egypt’s Hurghada hospital on the Red Sea coast, the ministry announced via social media. Additionally, four injured individuals were airlifted for medical attention, while 18 others were transported by ambulance to a separate local hospital.
Egypt’s petroleum ministry stated on Facebook that it had received a report from the Offshore Shukheir Oil Company (Osoco) confirming the barge’s capsizing. The incident occurred in the Gebel El-Zeit area within the Gulf of Suez. This area is situated approximately 300 kilometres (190 miles) south of the Suez Canal, a vital waterway that connects Europe and Asia.
The Suez Canal typically handles about 10 percent of global maritime trade; however, its traffic has been impacted since Yemen’s Houthis commenced attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea in late 2023. The Houthi rebels maintain that their attacks are carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel and the militant group Hamas have been engaged in conflict since October 2023.
