Sixteen missing after Red Sea tourist boat sinks
Egyptian authorities report that 16 people are missing, including foreign nationals, and 28 have been rescued after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea. Among the missing are two British citizens, one Finnish national, and four Egyptians.
The boat, carrying 44 people in total, including 13 crew members, sent a distress signal at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), according to the governor of Red Sea province.
Although the cause of the incident has not been determined, officials have stated that survivors described a wave striking the boat, leading to its capsizing. Weather warnings had been issued for Sunday and Monday, cautioning against marine activities.
The boat, named Sea Story, departed from Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving trip.
Red Sea Governor Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi confirmed that survivors were located in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, and were receiving medical care. He added that the Egyptian Navy’s El Fateh warship and military aircraft were increasing efforts to find the missing, with rescue teams working around the clock.
On Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority predicted rough conditions in the Mediterranean and Red Seas due to high winds (37-43 mph / 60-70 km/h) and waves between three and four meters (10-13 feet).
The local council in Marsa Alam confirmed that the Sea Story’s crew consisted of Egyptians, while the tourists on board included five Spanish, four British, four Germans, and two Americans.
It is unclear who is among the rescued and who is still missing, but the Red Sea governorate’s latest report said four Egyptians remained unaccounted for.
The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP news agency that one of its nationals is also among the missing.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they were in contact with the authorities, and were providing “support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt”.
The Chinese embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals were “in good health” after being rescued, according to their state media, as reported by AFP news agency.
Meanwhile, Polish foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski, told state-run Polish news agency PAP that authorities had information that two Polish citizens may have been aboard the boat.
Earlier reports from Egyptian authorities said there had been 45 people on the Sea Story when it sank – 14 crew and 31 tourists.
Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast and is surrounded by diving spots, including renowned coral reefs.
The Red Sea governorate said the boat was owned by an Egyptian national, and had received a one-year validity certificate in March 2024 when it was inspected by maritime safety.
Hanafi said there were no technical faults at the time of the incident, adding that reports from survivors said the boat capsized after being hit by a large wave, all of which took five to seven minutes.
He also visited Marsa Alam to see the people rescued, and said they were all in good health, and no-one had needed admission to hospital. The passengers are being received in a tourist hotel in the area, he added.
There was no immediate comment from Sea Story’s Egypt-based owner and operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard.
But its website says the vessel was built in 2022 and is 44m (144ft) long. It has four decks and 18 cabins that can accommodate up to 36 passengers.
Last year, three Britons died off the coast of Marsa Alam after their dive boat caught fire.
