15 drown in Egypt Nile boat accident

At least 15 people drowned when an unlicensed ferry capsized in Egypt's Nile river north of Cairo overnight.

Rescue teams have recovered 15 bodies and were searching for survivors in the Kafr al-Sheikh province north of Cairo.

The government said the boat was carrying 18 people, although its maximum capacity was seven passengers, and its licence had expired.

According to a governor statement, the boat sank due to overloading and bad weather conditions. On Thursday, many areas in Egypt suffered from severe winds and heavy rains, especially the northern provinces bordering the Mediterranean sea.

The accident came months after at least 36 Egyptians were killed when a party boat collided with a cargo ship in the Nile.

Following that accident in July, the government pledged to "achieve discipline" on the waterway.

It banned the use of loud speakers on vessels hired for private ceremonies and on ferries transporting people. The cabinet also decided not to build new berths along the river.

The Nile, which runs the length of Egypt, is dotted with cargo ships, party boats and fishing vessels.