Egyptian rescue teams recovered four bodies and five survivors on Tuesday during a search operation in the Red Sea after a tourist boat carrying 44 people sank on Monday. As of Tuesday evening, a total of 33 people had been rescued, but seven remained missing.
The identities of the victims have not been publicly disclosed, though the BBC understands that two of the missing are British nationals. The modern, four-deck Sea Story yacht had been carrying 31 passengers and 13 crew when it was struck by a large wave near Marsa Alam, causing it to capsize.
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Distress calls were made at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), and the vessel sank within five to seven minutes, according to Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi, the Red Sea governor. Some passengers were unable to escape from their cabins before the boat went down.
In the hours following the capsizing, military personnel and a passing tourist boat managed to rescue 28 people. Additional survivors were found in the Wadi el-Gemal area south of Marsa Alam.
The Sea Story yacht, measuring 44 meters (144 feet), had departed from a port near Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving trip, with plans to end in Hurghada. The boat was believed to have been struck by rough winds overnight on Sunday. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of high waves and strong winds on the Red Sea that day, advising against maritime activities. Wind speeds ranged from 37-43 mph (60-70 km/h), and wave heights reached 3-4 meters (10-13 feet).
The passengers onboard were from various countries, including Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the US. Among the missing are two Polish tourists and one from Finland. The UK Foreign Office confirmed they were providing assistance to the British nationals involved, while the Chinese embassy reported that two of its citizens had been rescued and were in good health.
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Marsa Alam is a popular tourist destination on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, known for its diving spots and coral reefs. The boat was owned by an Egyptian national and had passed a safety inspection in March 2024, receiving a one-year validity certificate. There were no technical faults reported at the time of the incident.
The survivors have been taken to a local tourist hotel, and all are reported to be in good health with no hospitalizations needed.