Four Pakistani were killed, Six rescued when a boat sank in the area of Boulaq Aboul Ela in Cairo

At least four people were killed when a Nile cruise boat sank Wednesday at dawn in the area of Boulaq Aboul Ela in Cairo, officials said. The four deceased were Pakistani citizens, according to state media.

Search efforts for three bodies continue on Wednesday morning.

Six people were rescued, according to the Marine Police Force, who added that the sinking occurred as a result of the boat’s collision with one of the pillars of a bridge.

The cruise’s papers were in accordance with the law, with a licence valid until February 2018, according to the head of the Marine Police Force Hamed Al-Okeily.

Similar accidents have taken place across Egypt. A major boat collision in 2015 claimed the lives of more than 30 people on board. Its captain and crew members were arrested for violation of maritime safety regulations.
General Hamed El-Oqaily, the head of Cairo's river police told Ahram Arabic newswebsite that police were able to rescue six of the people who were aboard the boat and is still searching for three more believed missing.

El-Oqaily added that the boat has a valid operation license which expires in February 2018.

Prosecutors investigating the deadly accident have taken the boat's sailor into custody and are questioning the owner.

The boat was sailing along the Nile when it collided with a concrete column which lifts the 15 May bridge, causing it capsize, according to the prosecution.

Accidents are common on the Nile, which is used by many cargo vessels and ferries as well as pleasure boats.

Earlier this year, 15 people drowned when an unlicensed ferry sank.