British Ambassador in Cairo John Casson mourned the death of 162 persons who were on board a migrant boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Rosetta city.

"The news from the Rosetta boat sinking is heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with everyone suffering and with the many Egyptians responding," the diplomat said on Facebook on Friday.

He wished "this tragedy will mean we all renew efforts stop both the criminal smugglers and the human desperation that pushes people into their grasp."

The bodies of 166 people have been recovered from the site of the disaster, 12 km off the Egyptian coastal city.

Source: MENA