Egyptian authorities have confirmed that 17 people are still missing, including foreign nationals, after a tourist boat sank off the coast of the Red Sea. The boat, named Sea Story, was on a five-day diving trip when it went down on Saturday morning.
The distress signal was received at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT) from the vessel, which had departed from Marsa Alam with 31 tourists and 14 crew members aboard. The boat was heading to popular diving spots along Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast.
Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi, Governor of Red Sea Province, stated that 28 individuals had been rescued from the sinking boat. They were found in the Wadi el-Gemal area, located south of Marsa Alam, and are currently receiving medical care. Efforts to locate the missing passengers are ongoing, with Egyptian Navy warship El Fateh and military aircraft assisting in the search.
The local council in Marsa Alam confirmed that the crew members of Sea Story were all Egyptian nationals, while the tourists onboard included individuals from the UK, Spain, Germany, the United States, Slovakia, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Norway, Ireland, Finland, and China.
Marsa Alam, known for its popular diving spots and coral reefs, attracts many tourists each year. The area is regarded as a top destination for diving enthusiasts seeking to explore the underwater world of the Red Sea.
While there has been no immediate comment from Sea Story‘s Egypt-based operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard, the company’s website states that the vessel was built in 2022 and measures 44 meters (144 feet) in length. It features four decks with 18 cabins, offering accommodation for up to 36 passengers.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of tourist vessels operating in the region, with authorities promising to continue their search for the missing passengers while providing support to the survivors.
