Sisi orders necessary measures to be taken to prevent Nile boat accidents

President Abdel Fattah el Sisi met on Saturday with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab on a recent Nile boat accident that left several people people dead.

Sisi gave directives to take all measures to prevent such incidents, said presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef.

The president was keen to get acquainted with circumstances of the accident in which a boat collided with a barge, said Youssef.

He cited the premier as saying that a panel has been formed from concerned ministries to review regulations of Nile transportation. Punishment for violators will be tightened, he said.

The president ordered full care to be provided to the families of the victims and compensations to be paid to them.

Meantime, the prime minister reviewed during the meeting with the president the outcome of his recent visit to Italy, said the spokesman.

Sisi ordered to further promote the bilateral ties with Rome.

The outcome of Mahlab's recent trip to Equatorial Guinea was also mulled at the meeting.

The president asserted the importance of boosting Egypt's relations with all African countries.