Nile boat sinks in Egypt, dozens thought missing

CAIRO, Aug 18 (Reuters) A Nile boat sank off the south Egyptian town of Beni Suef night and police sources said they thought dozens of people could be missing.

The boat, the Princesa, was hosting a wedding party yesterday with several hundred guests just off the town about 80 km south of the capital Cairo, they said. The sinking took place in the dark at about midnight local time.

One police source said later that frogmen were diving down to inspect the boat and had not reported finding any bodies.

Most of the passengers were able to get ashore safely, the source added, but he said he could not give numbers.

Reuters SZ VP0425