A teacher on a cruise with her husband has died after the ship she was travelling on collided with another cruise vessel.
The violent impact, which occurred at around 7pm yesterday (21 Dec), destroyed four cabins on the MS Royal Beau Rivage.
The collision caused Denise Ruggeri to fall inside her cabin, where she suffered a serious lung injury.
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She was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later died in the intensive care unit.
The cause of the collision on the Nile, which took place around 30km (19 miles) from Luxor in southern Egypt, is still under investigation.
Some reports suggest the Royal Beau Rivage made a sudden manoeuvre, allegedly breaching right-of-way rules, before colliding with the MS Opera near the Esna Lock.
The two vessels were travelling in opposite directions, as reported by Need To Know.
Several passengers are reported to have fallen into the water as a result of the impact.
Denise, 47, was from Cagnano Amiterno in Italy’s Abruzzo region and worked as a teacher in nearby Pizzoli.
She and her husband were among dozens of Italian tourists on board the Royal Beau Rivage.
The ship’s captain’s licence has reportedly been withdrawn.
Italy’s ambassador to Cairo, Agostino Palese, said: “At present there is no news of other Italians being involved; they are all believed to be safe.”
No other serious injuries have been reported.
The Esna Lock, which connects Luxor and Aswan, sees heavy river traffic, particularly during the winter tourist season.
Similar incidents, though without fatalities, have occurred in the area in the past.
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