A tragic collision between two cruise ships on Egypt's River Nile has resulted in the death of an Italian tourist, with local media describing the impact as 'extremely violent'.
Details of the Deadly Collision
The incident occurred near the historic city of Luxor at approximately 7pm on Sunday evening. The cruise ship named Royal Beau Rivage collided with another vessel, the Opera, in a crash of significant force.
Denise Ruggeri, a 47-year-old Italian national who was travelling with her husband, was in her cabin on the Royal Beau Rivage at the time of the impact. She was reportedly crushed within the room, sustaining a serious lung injury.
Following rescue efforts, Ms Ruggeri was rushed to Esna Hospital but sadly succumbed to her injuries shortly after admission.
Response and Investigation
Diplomatic sources have confirmed that there were between 70 and 80 other Italian tourists aboard the Royal Beau Rivage. Fortunately, no further injuries have been reported.
The Italian Ambassador to Cairo, Agostino Palese, moved to reassure the public, stating: 'At the moment, there is no news of other Italians being involved; they are all safe.'
The Egyptian River Transport Authority has attributed the accident to a 'sharp manoeuvre' and a violation of navigation rules. In response, the licence of the Royal Beau Rivage's captain has been suspended, and the prosecutor's office has opened a formal investigation.
Condolences and Context
Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo Region from which Ms Ruggeri hailed, issued a heartfelt message expressing his and the regional council's deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
This fatal accident follows another concerning incident on the Nile just two months prior, when a tourist cruise ship, the Iberotel Crown Empress, burst into flames. That event forced the evacuation of over 200 holidaymakers, though no injuries were reported.
Furthermore, in a separate maritime event in October, a Norwegian Cruise ship rescued 63 people who were stranded in the Ionian Sea off the Greek coast, highlighting the varied challenges faced in regional tourist waterways.
