Story highlights The boat was headed to Italy, Egyptian military says

Follows foiled attempt to transport 294 migrants on another boat the same day

(CNN) Less than half the estimated 450 migrants believed to be on a boat that capsized off the Egyptian coast have been rescued, the country's military said.

The vessel had set off from Egypt and was heading for Italy when it was found 12 nautical miles northeast of the town of Rashid -- also known as Rosetta -- in El Beheira Governorate on Wednesday afternoon, the Egyptian military said in a statement.

The statement added that 163 people had been rescued, while 43 bodies were recovered. Initial estimates put the number of people on board the boat at 600.

Mahmoud Aly spent Wednesday going between hospitals along the coast. His brother and cousin were on board the boat that capsized.

People gather at the port at Rashid on September 21 as the search continues

He told CNN his cousin was rescued but his 24-year-old brother is missing. "The boat had more people than it could take. It's a wooden boat," he said.

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