Egypt says 16 people missing as tourist boat sinks off Red Sea coast
A minimum of 28 individuals were saved after a vessel named Sea Story, which was transporting 44 people, went down close to the coastal town of Marsa Alam.
According to local authorities, sixteen individuals, including twelve foreign tourists, have gone missing following the capsizing of a tourist vessel along Egypt's Red Sea shoreline.
The vessel named Sea Story was transporting 44 individuals in total, which included 31 tourists from different countries and 13 crew members, as they embarked on a multi-day diving expedition. The boat sank on Monday close to the town of Marsa Alam, according to a statement from the Red Sea Governorate, which corrected an earlier report that mentioned there were 14 Egyptian crew members on board.
According to reports, twenty-eight individuals were saved and sustained only slight injuries like bruises and scrapes, with no one needing to be hospitalized.
Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi indicated that initial reports pointed to a sudden massive wave hitting the boat, causing it to sink in just five to seven minutes.
He mentioned in his statement that certain passengers were inside their cabins, which is why they couldn't get out.
Officials informed Reuters that search efforts to find additional survivors were still being coordinated with both the Egyptian navy and army.
The 34-meter-long boat, which is owned by an Egyptian, had onboard people from various countries, including the United States, Belgium, the United Kingdom, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland.
The local authorities reported that a distress signal was picked up at 5:30 AM (03:30 GMT). The boat had set off from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday, intending to return to Hurghada Marina on November 29.
As reported by Ahram Online, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority predicted rough sea conditions in both the Mediterranean and Red Seas, recommending that all maritime activities be halted on Sunday and Monday.
It was also noted that wave heights were expected to reach between 4 and 6 meters (13 to 20 feet) in the Mediterranean and between 3 and 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) in the Red Sea.
It was uncertain how the ship was allowed to set off in such bad weather.
The Red Sea is a well-known spot for diving, famous for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, which play an essential role in Egypt's important tourism sector.
In 2023, three British travelers disappeared and 12 were saved after a fire broke out on a motorboat near Marsa Alam.
In 2016, Egypt experienced one of its most devastating maritime tragedies, as a boat filled with around 600 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in the deaths of at least 170 individuals.
Al Jazeera and media outlets
