Health Minister Adel Edawy stated Wednesday that the phosphorus levels in the Nile water does not exceed the permitted levels making it safe to drink.

Edawy said that following the sinking of a boat loaded with 500 tons of phosphate stones in Qena, he sent a team from the ministry for surveillance and taking water samples.

Water samples from where the boat sank were found to have 0.5 percent mg of phosphorus, not exceeding the 2 percent mg per liter limit.

The samples were negative at Al Taramsah, Al Marashda, Al Waqf, Al Waqf Al-Gadeeda and Deshna.

The minister added that the salvaging operation will take at least 72 hours.