Sixteen missing after tourist boat sinks in Red Sea

Egyptian authorities say 16 persons are lacking, together with foreigners, and 28 have been rescued after a vacationer boat sank within the Crimson Sea.

Two of these lacking are British, the BBC understands. Finland has confirmed one in all their nationals is unaccounted for, whereas authorities say 4 Egyptians are additionally lacking.

The boat with 44 individuals on board – together with 13 crew – despatched a misery sign at 05:30 (03:30 GMT), in accordance with the governor of Crimson Sea province.

Authorities haven’t indicated the potential reason behind the incident, however added accounts of individuals onboard talked about a wave hit the boat and brought on it to capsize. Climate forecasters had warned towards marine actions for Sunday and Monday.

The Sea Story left port close to Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving journey, in accordance with officers.

Crimson Sea Governor Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi mentioned the survivors had been discovered within the Wadi el-Gemal space, south of Marsa Alam, and that they had been receiving the required medical care.

He added the Egyptian Navy warship El Fateh and army plane had been intensifying their efforts to find the lacking, with rescue groups working across the clock.

On Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecast turbulence on the Mediterranean and Crimson Seas because of the climate.

Wind speeds had been between 37-43 mph (60-70 km/h), and wave heights had been three to 4 metres (10-13ft) excessive, they mentioned.

Based on the native council in Marsa Alam, the crew of the Sea Story are all Egyptians and the vacationers on board included 5 Spanish, 4 British, 4 Germans and two US nationals.

It’s unclear who’s among the many rescued and who continues to be lacking, however the Crimson Sea governorate’s newest report mentioned 4 Egyptians remained unaccounted for.

The Finnish overseas ministry confirmed to AFP information company that one in all its nationals can be among the many lacking.

A UK Overseas Workplace spokesperson mentioned they had been involved with the authorities, and had been offering “help to quite a lot of British nationals and their households following an incident in Egypt”.

The Chinese language embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals had been “in good well being” after being rescued, in accordance with their state media, as reported by AFP information company.

In the meantime, Polish overseas ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski, informed state-run Polish information company PAP that authorities had info that two Polish residents could have been aboard the boat.

Earlier reviews from Egyptian authorities mentioned there had been 45 individuals on the Sea Story when it sank – 14 crew and 31 vacationers.

Marsa Alam is a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers on Egypt’s southern Crimson Beach and is surrounded by diving spots, together with famend coral reefs.

The Crimson Sea governorate mentioned the boat was owned by an Egyptian nationwide, and had acquired a one-year validity certificates in March 2024 when it was inspected by maritime security.

Hanafi mentioned there have been no technical faults on the time of the incident, including that reviews from survivors mentioned the boat capsized after being hit by a big wave, all of which took 5 to seven minutes.

He additionally visited Marsa Alam to see the individuals rescued, and mentioned they had been all in good well being, and no-one had wanted admission to hospital. The passengers are being acquired in a vacationer resort within the space, he added.

There was no quick remark from Sea Story’s Egypt-based proprietor and operator, Dive Professional Liveaboard.

However its web site says the vessel was in-built 2022 and is 44m (144ft) lengthy. It has 4 decks and 18 cabins that may accommodate as much as 36 passengers.

Final yr, three Britons died off the coast of Marsa Alam after their dive boat caught fireplace.