Relatives of "Salam-98" Ferry Victims Shocked

Several thousand people have been trying to force their way into the Egyptian port of Safaga to get information about their kith and kin who were aboard the "Salam-98" ferry that sank in the Red Sea. The police have used sticks and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The agitated people responded with a volley of stones, say the witnesses of the sad events.

Meanwhile, a rescue operation has been going on in the Red Sea. Ten warships from Saudi Arabia and Egypt are taking part.

Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak came to the resort town of Hurghada and announced that material aid would be given to the families of the victims and to those who were lucky to survive. Collection of funds to aid the victims of the disaster is going on across the country. 1,500 blankets and 500 packs of emergency rations have been brought to the port for the relatives of the victims who gathered at the port gate desperate for news.

Between 354 and 415 people are reported to have been rescued in the ferry disaster. All in all there were 1414 passengers and crew members aboard the "Salam-98" ferry.

The ferry had sunk at 92 km off the Egyptian shore because of a fire in the engine compartment.