Egyptian officials have confirmed the death of an Italian tourist following a collision between two Nile River cruise ships. The captain of the cruise ship Royal Beau Rivage has had his license suspended and is under investigation for breaching maritime regulations. The General Authority for River Transport alleges that the captain executed a sudden maneuver that led to the crash.
The Royal Beau Rivage, a luxury vessel launched in September 2022, was carrying around 80 Italian tourists when it collided with the Opera, a riverboat built in 2009 with a capacity for 199 passengers. The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time near Esna Lock, approximately 20 miles south of Luxor. The Royal Beau Rivage sustained significant damage to three of its front cabins, where the injured tourist was located.
The injured 47-year-old woman was transported to a local hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. Reports indicate that there were concerns about additional individuals possibly in the river following the impact; however, the Italian ambassador stated that no further serious injuries were reported. River traffic resumed the next day as authorities began investigating the incident.
The river authority emphasized that navigation rules prioritize vessels moving with the current, asserting that the Royal Beau Rivage violated these regulations. The case has been referred to the general prosecutor for further examination.
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