Two Egyptian drivers drowned in Sokhna amid accusation of ‘negligence’ against private company

CAIRO – 24 May 2025: A tragic accident took place at Sokhna Port in Suez when two divers drowned while performing maintenance work on a ship in the port’s eastern basin, leaving their families and colleagues in mourning, Youm7 reported.

Rescue police received a report that the divers drowned while carrying out underwater welding as part of a technical operation at a depth of approximately four meters.

Initial investigations identified the victims as Hassan M.A., 30, and Mohamed N.A., 26, both from Alexandria Governorate. They were employed by a private company specializing in ship maintenance and were assigned to the port as part of a technical team.

Port sources told Youm7 that the divers failed to surface on time, prompting an immediate alarm and a thorough search operation. The body of the first diver was recovered five hours after the incident, while the second was found the following day.

Both bodies were transferred to the hospital morgue, and the Public Prosecution Office has opened an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident. Meanwhile, port authorities have started reviewing safety procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident sparked outrage and criticism on social media, as users accused the company of neglecting necessary maintenance on malfunctioning diving breathing cylinders—failures that could lead to oxygen deficiency or poisoning.

Social media users have called for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable, citing a lack of proper oversight over the company’s operations.