Egyptian authorities have reported that 17 people, including foreigners, are missing, and 28 others have been rescued after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea.
The incident involved the Sea Story, which had departed from a port near Marsa Alam on Saturday for a five-day diving excursion.
According to Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi, governor of the Red Sea province, the distress signal was received at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT).
“The survivors were located in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, and are receiving the necessary medical care,” Hanafi confirmed.
Efforts to locate the missing are ongoing, with the Egyptian Navy warship El Fateh and military aircraft involved in the search operation.
Local authorities in Marsa Alam revealed that the vessel’s crew consisted entirely of Egyptians, while the tourists on board represented various nationalities, including British, Spanish, German, American, Slovakian, Swiss, Belgian, Polish, Norwegian, Irish, Finnish, and Chinese citizens.
Marsa Alam, a well-known destination on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, attracts divers with its famous coral reefs.
The Sea Story, built in 2022, is a 44-meter (144-foot) vessel with four decks and 18 cabins, capable of hosting up to 36 passengers, according to the website of its operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard. The Egypt-based company has not yet commented on the incident.
Source-BBC
