delis.e sources put the number of workers involved in the construction of the canal at one and a half. million people it has been estimated that more than 30,000 workers have always been working throughout it. many of these workers were transported from different parts of the world to work in egypt. but a significant part of them were egyptian farmers who had been working in the canal project with the lowest wages and sometimes by force. thousands of these workers died from hard working conditions and diseases such as cholera during the construction years of the canal. finally , the opening ceremony of the canal was held on november 15, 1869, with the presence of the king of egypt and many members of the royal family of europe such as france, austria and prussia. its control came under french supervision. the king of egypt, ismail pasha , sold the country's share of the canal, which was 44%, to england, due to the inability to pay egypt's loans, now that the canal had been completed. the peo