DEATH TOLL RISES in migrant ship disaster: The death toll from the fishing boat carrying 450 migrants that capsized off the coast of Egypt on Wednesday has risen to 165 according to official estimates, Ahram Online reported on Saturday. Reuters, however, is putting the number of those onboard at 600. The fishing boat had been headed to Italy carrying migrants of different nationalities, and was carrying over 300 people beyond the boat’s maximum capacity of 150 passengers. Authorities have ordered the arrest of the boat’s four crew members on charges including human trafficking and wrongful death. The death toll could still rise as searchers comb the water for bodies. Egyptian rescue workers and fishermen saved 169 people. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has vowed to punish those responsible for the incident.

The Ismail government held crisis meetings on Saturday to develop a comprehensive strategy to clampdown on migrant smuggling in Egypt.El Sisi ordered a tightening of security on land and sea to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The president also ordered the government to coordinate further with the House of Representatives to pass the Anti-Illegal Immigration Act and the launch of an awareness campaign to educate the public on the dangers of illegal immigration.

As predictably as ever, MPs of the House have used this tragedy as an opportunity for some grandstanding, with some calling for the resignation of the Interior Minister, holding him responsible for the incident, AMAY reports.

The total number of migrants reaching Europe via the Mediterranean Sea was a staggering 300k arrivals for 2016 alone; some 3,501 have died at sea in their attempt, according to a statement issued by the International Organization for Migration on Friday. The number of migrant arrivals, however, has dropped by nearly 50% from 2015’s 518k arrivals.