Two Britons among 16 missing after tourist boat capsizes in Red Sea
Reports indicate that two British nationals are among the 16 individuals unaccounted for following the capsizing of a tourist boat on a diving excursion in the Red Sea.
The Sea Story had 30 travelers from various countries and a crew of 14 on board when it issued an emergency call at 5:30 AM local time (0330 GMT), as reported by the Red Sea governorate in Egypt.
The reason behind the sinking of the four-deck wooden motor yacht remains uncertain at this time. Some unverified accounts suggest that it may have been struck by a wave during strong winds.
According to the BBC, 28 individuals have been saved, while 16 others are still unaccounted for, among them two from the UK. The UK Foreign Office has stated that it is offering consular assistance to several British citizens and their families following the event.
The vessel set sail from Port Ghalib, close to Marsa Alam in Egypt, for a diving excursion that was supposed to end on Friday in Hurghada, located 124 miles (200 kilometers) to the north. Governor Amr Hanafi reported that some survivors were rescued by an aircraft, while others were brought to safety on a military ship.
Hanafi mentioned that thorough search efforts are currently being conducted in collaboration with the navy and the military.
Officials have not yet revealed what might have caused the incident or provided details about the nationalities of those who are missing. Hanafi mentioned that the yacht was carrying a total of 44 individuals, among them 31 foreign nationals from countries such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.
On Monday evening, Hanafi reported that rescuers successfully saved 28 individuals, while 16 people, including four Egyptians, are still unaccounted for.
Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Department informed the Associated Press that they are "aware of the situation and are offering consular support," but did not disclose more specifics. The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to Agence France-Presse that one of its citizens is currently unaccounted for. Additionally, a spokesperson for the Polish foreign ministry told the news agency that Egyptian officials indicated that two individuals involved might hold Polish citizenship.
A manager at a nearby diving resort involved in the rescue reported that a surviving crew member shared that they were "struck by a wave in the middle of the night, causing the boat to tip over."
The manager, who requested to remain anonymous, informed AFP that it is "unlikely the missing individuals will be found alive after spending 12 hours in the water."
On Sunday, marine operations were halted in Hurghada, the capital of the Red Sea, due to adverse weather conditions. However, the winds near Marsa Alam were reported to be favorable until Sunday evening. This region has experienced at least two similar incidents this year, both of which fortunately did not result in any fatalities.
The coastline of the Red Sea is a favored spot for tourists in Egypt, a nation with a population of 105 million that is currently facing an economic downturn. Across the country, the tourism industry supports 2 million jobs and contributes over 10% to the country's overall GDP.
This month, a total of 30 individuals were saved from a diving boat that was going down close to the Deadalus reef in the Red Sea. Back in June, there was another incident where 24 French tourists were successfully rescued just before their boat went under in a comparable situation.
Last year, a tragic incident occurred when three British tourists lost their lives in a fire that erupted on their yacht, completely consuming the boat in flames. Each day, numerous diving boats travel between coral reefs and islands along Egypt's eastern shoreline. Although safety regulations are generally strict, their enforcement can be inconsistent.
