Sixteen missing after tourist boat sinks in Red Sea

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

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

The boat with 44 folks on board – despatched a misery sign at 05:30 (03:30 GMT), in line with the governor of Red Sea province.

Authorities haven’t indicated the doable explanation for the incident, however added there have been no technical faults onboard. Weather forecasters nonetheless warned in opposition to marine actions for Sunday and Monday.

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

Red 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.

Hanafi added that the Egyptian Navy warship El Fateh and navy plane had been intensifying their efforts to find the lacking.

“Intensive search operations are under way in co-ordination with the navy and the armed forces,” he mentioned.

On Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecast turbulence on the Mediterranean and Red 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.

According to 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 is unclear who’s among the many rescued and who continues to be lacking, however the Red Sea governorate’s newest report mentioned 4 Egyptians are lacking.

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

A British Foreign Office spokesperson mentioned they had been involved with the authorities, and had been offering “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 had been “in good health” after being rescued, in line with their state media, as reported by AFP.

Meanwhile, Polish international ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski, informed state-run Polish information company PAP that authorities had data that two Polish residents might have been aboard the boat.

Earlier studies from Egyptian authorities mentioned there had been 45 folks 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 Red Sea coast and is surrounded by diving spots, together with famend coral reefs.

A workers member of a diving resort near the rescue operation informed AFP {that a} rescued crew member mentioned they had been “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.

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

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

Last 12 months, three Britons died off the coast of Marsa Alam after their dive boat caught fireplace.