At least 21 people celebrating an engagement were killed on the Nile north of Cairo late Wednesday when a cargo ship hit their chartered boat, medical and security sources said.

Five were rescued as a search was being conducted for 10 others believed to be missing, the privately owned newspaper al-Watan said, citing an unnamed security official.

There were more than 35 people aboard the boat when a barge hit it late Wednesday and caused it to sink off the district of al-Waraq in Giza, according to witnesses.

In an initial report, the Interior Ministry said that 15 people drowned and six were rescued in the accident. However, the death toll rose to 22 people, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.

Five were rescued as a search was being conducted for 10 others believed to be missing, the privately owned newspaper al-Watan said, citing an unnamed security official.

Angry families of the victims gathered near a police station in al-Waraq, chanting anti-government slogans, state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported online.

Public transport accidents are common in Egypt mainly due to lack of safety standards.