Ten killed after Egyptian ferry sinks in Nile

The boat sank off Giza, a twin city of Cairo, on Sunday.

Five people were injured.

The ministry said it will pay 200,000 pounds ($A9,850) in compensation to each deceased person's family and 20,000 pounds for every injured worker.

The cause of the accident remains unclear.

Some Egyptian media reported it was due to overcrowding on the boat.

The labourers were on their way to work at a local construction firm.

It took rescue teams hours to recover the bodies, according to local media which aired live-stream videos on social media platforms showing divers searching for the dead as villagers waited on the Nile banks.

Many Egyptians make their way using boats on a daily basis, especially in Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta.

Sailing along the Nile is also a favourite pastime during holidays in the Arab world's most populous country.

with AP

Australian Associated Press