Egyptian authorities have reported that 17 people, including foreigners, are missing after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea, while 28 others have been rescued. As rescue operations continue, two British nationals and one Finnish person are among the missing, BBC reported.
The boat, “Sea Story,” was carrying 31 tourists and 14 Egyptian crew members when it sent a distress signal at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Monday, according to the governor of Red Sea province.
The boat had departed from popular destination, Marsa Alam, on Sunday for a five-day diving trip. Survivors were found in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, and are currently receiving medical care. Egyptian authorities have deployed the Navy warship “El Fateh” and a military aircraft to assist in the search for the missing passengers.
The tourists aboard included five Spanish nationals, four British, four Germans, and two Americans, along with the Egyptian crew. While authorities have not disclosed which specific individuals have been rescued or remain missing, Finland’s foreign ministry confirmed that one of its citizens has been unaccounted for.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecasted rough sea conditions for Sunday and Monday, with wind speeds of 60-70 km/h and waves reaching up to four meters, potentially contributing to the incident.
The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with Egyptian authorities and supporting British nationals and their families affected by the incident. The Chinese embassy also confirmed that two of its nationals were rescued and are in good health.
Marsa Alam, a top tourist destination on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, is known for its diving spots and coral reefs. A staff member from a nearby diving resort told AFP that a rescued crew member reported that the boat was hit by a large wave in the middle of the night, causing it to capsize.
Sea Story was built in 2022 and is 44 meters long with four decks and 18 cabins, accommodating up to 36 passengers. The operator, “Dive Pro Liveaboard” has yet to comment on the incident.
Another incident occurred last year when three British nationals died after a diving boat caught fire off the coast of Marsa Alam.