At least 13 Egyptian fishermen died early Sunday after their boat sank in the Red Sea following a collision with a container ship, state media said.
The boat had 45 fishermen on board when it collided with the vessel off the Egyptian town of al-Tur in southern Sinai, state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported online.
A number of fishermen were rescued, according to the report, and a search was under way for the others.
The container ship was on a journey from Italy to the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah, the official Middle East News Agency said, quoting Abdel-Rahim Mustafa, a spokesman for the Red Sea Ports Authority.
Officials were holding the ship at the Egyptian port of Safaga while investigations continued.