Egyptian ferry victims to be compensated
The owner of a ferry that sank in the Red Sea last winter, drowning more than 1,000 people, will pay millions of euro in compensation to survivors and victims’ families, an Egyptian prosecutor said today.
The owner, Mamdouh Ismail, fled the country with his son shortly before another prosecutor ordered the two, and four others, to face trial on charges of negligence and corruption. He is believed to be in Europe.
The Al-Salam Boccaccio 98, with roughly 1,400 passengers and crew aboard, sank after a fire broke out in the vessel’s car parking bay while it was en route from Saudi Arabia to Egypt.
Most victims were Egyptian workers returning home from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. Prosecutor Gaber Rayhan said a total of £30m (€43.5m) would be paid.
The family of each victim will get £30,000 and each survivor will get £5,000 (€7,254), the prosecutor said.
In addition, people who lost cars will get £7,000 (€10,155) and truck owners £14,000 (€20,311).
He said the money would be paid within days.
