Search operations by the Egyptian army did not succeed in finding an Egyptian fishing boat that sank Saturday off the Sudanese shores or any of its crew members, military spokesman Mohamed Samir said.

An Egyptian frigate with a helicopter on board was dispatched to the area at 1:30 this morning and searched the whole island (Msebret in the Red Sea), the surrounding coral reefs but did not find the boat or any of its crew members, Samir said, adding that the search was over at 6 p.m.

The boat which carries 14 fishermen had begun its trip on January 23. It has reportedly capsized Saturday close to the Sudanese-Eritrean border after being drifted into the Sudanese territorial waters due to strong winds and sent an SOS signal before it sank.

The Sudanese coastal guards rescued two fishermen.

Source: MENA