Additionally, five workers were rescued, while four others remain missing. The incident occurred near the northern Giza village of Nekla, approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of Cairo, as detailed by the state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram.
“Rescuers successfully recovered the bodies of four victims and saved five others,” the paper reported.
According to the health ministry, four of the rescued individuals were transported to the hospital, with three of them later discharged.
They were diagnosed with “drowning-induced asphyxia,” with one remaining under observation.
At the scene, AFP correspondents witnessed local fishermen retrieving a body from the water while anxious relatives observed the rescue efforts.
One volunteer, identified as Yasser, recounted arriving at the scene more than an hour after the accident and assisting in rescuing four individuals.
Yasser and other fishermen opted for anonymity to safeguard their privacy. Speaking from a small wooden motorboat, Yasser mentioned that the volunteers are self-funded through donations from a nearby village to aid in responding to emergencies along the canal.
Drowning incidents are prevalent in Egypt’s agricultural areas along its numerous canals, where small, overloaded boats transport farmers and workers.
Additionally, there are frequent reports of children and students falling into the water and struggling to swim to safety, prompting local communities to organize search-and-rescue operations.