Four dead, 22 injured after barge sinks in Egypt’s Gulf of Suez

At least four people were killed and 22 others injured when a barge sank in the Gulf of Suez on the night of July 1 to 2, Egypt’s government has confirmed.

According to the country's Health Ministry, the vessel — identified as Adam Marine 12 — capsized under yet-to-be-determined circumstances, according to a foreign media report, quoted by Caliber.Az. 

The incident occurred in the Gebel El-Zeit area, approximately 300 kilometres (190 miles) south of the Suez Canal, a major global trade route.

Four victims were transported to Hurghada Hospital on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, while four others were airlifted and 18 taken by ambulance to another nearby medical facility, the ministry announced on social media.

Egypt’s petroleum ministry said in a statement that it was notified of the incident by the Offshore Shukheir Oil Company (Osoco), which operates in the area.

The Gulf of Suez lies along vital shipping lanes, not far from the Suez Canal, which prior to late 2023 accounted for roughly 10 per cent of global maritime trade. The canal’s operations have since been disrupted by repeated attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim the attacks are in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza against Hamas, which began in October 2023.

By Khagan Isayev