A tragic accident occurred on Egypt’s Red Sea coast when a tourist yacht, named “Sea Story,” capsized on Monday, killing at least four people, with eight others still missing, according to Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi, the Guardian reported.
The yacht, carrying 30 tourists and 14 crew members, sank after high waves hit it at around 5:30 A.M. local time near the coastal town of Marsa Alam, a popular tourist destination.
The boat had been on a diving trip from Marsa Alam and was scheduled to return after a five-day journey. Among the 44 people on board, 13 were Egyptians, and 31 were foreign nationals from countries including the US, UK, and Germany, according to the Red Sea Governorate facebook page.
Rescue efforts have already saved 32 individuals, and the Egyptian military continues to search for the missing.
Sea Story, built in 2022, had passed its recent safety check in March and was in good condition, authorities said. On the day the capsized weather warning had cautioned about rough seas, the boat sank in less than seven minutes amid the fast-moving waves.
Weather conditions on the Red Sea had been particularly dangerous, and the boat’s rapid sinking left some passengers trapped inside their cabins, unable to escape.
The disaster prompted quick action from nearby vessels and rescue teams, who managed to airlift many of the survivors to medical facilities for treatment.
The tragedy has drawn international attention, with governments such as the UK and Ireland confirming that nationals were among those rescued.