Egyptian men gather at the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosetta on September 22, 2016 while security forces and rescuers take part in a search operation. (Photo: AFP)
Egypt's Damanhour prosecution ordered Thursday the detention for four days pending investigations of four of the crew of a boat for illegal migrants that capsized in the Mediterranean Wednesday.
The health ministry said Wednesday evening that 42 people died in the incident as the boat was carrying migrants off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta.
The afflicted boat, which was carrying 600 migrants off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta as reported by state news agency MENA, left 42 dead, 6 injured and rescued 160, leaving 392 missing.
The prosecution also ordered the release of 160 rescued survivors of the capsized boat, including 117 Egyptians and 43 foreigners.
According to initial investigations conducted by police in the Nile Delta's Beheira governorate, the boat, which was carrying 600 migrants as reported by state news agency MENA, capsized after it sailed from Kafr El-Sheikh's Meghizal area.
The boat's planned destination is still unknown.
In recent years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in search of better jobs and opportunities. Hundreds have been arrested by Egyptian naval forces.
Short link: