Taba (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Teams of rescuers are searching for 30 people still thought to be under the rubbles of the Hilton hotel in Taba (a resort town on the border between Egypt and Israel)  that was devastated by a bomb attack over night on October 7 and 8. The number of known dead now stands at 31 but is expected to rise in the next few hours. About 160 people were injured. Tens of rescuers are still digging among the rubbles to find survivors, but chances to find any are diminishing as each hour passes.

Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Zeev Boim said that the attack "seems to fit more international terror groups like al-Qaeda, or some branches of al-Qaeda." Palestinian groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad denied any involvement.

Israeli government officials said the attack was caused by a car bomb, which exploded when the vehicle rammed the building, and a suicide bomber who blew himself up. Eye witnesses said that the explosion was astonishing.

Most casualties are Israeli but there are also Russian and Egyptian nationals among the dead.

In the aftermath of the event the Israeli government has urged its citizens to leave Egypt. The governments of the US and Germany have warned their citizens against travelling to the Sinai.

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and Egyptian President Mubarak agreed to reinforce co-operation to prevent similar attacks from happening again.

The fate of two Italian sisters who were staying at the hotel remains uncertain. Jessica and Sabrina Rinaudo, from Piedmont, left on Monday on a short trip to the Red Sea.

Attacks of this scale have not taken place in Egypt since 1997 when 58 tourists were killed in Luxor.

Taba is the main crossing point between Israel and Egypt, and a major tourist destination for thousands of Israelis bound for the Red Sea.

Inevitably, the attack will hit Egypt's economy very hard. Tourism is one of the country's main sources of foreign currency. Official figures show that tourism represents about 5 per cent of Egypt's GNP. If its impact on the food industry is taken into account, tourism's share rises to 10/15 per cent employing about 4 million Egyptians or 12.6 per cent of the country's workforce.