‘Four Brits’ among dozens of tourists missing as diving boat sinks off coast of Egypt
25 November 2024, 14:14 | Updated: 25 November 2024, 16:19
A major rescue mission has been launched after a diving boat sank off the Egyptian coast.
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Four Brits were among those on board, according to local media outlet Masrawy.
The boat, Sea Story, sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the coast of Marsa Alam.
Thirty-one tourists including the four Britons, two Americans - as well as 14 Egyptian crew members were on board, according to local media.
The Foreign Office said it is providing consular support to "a number of British nationals and their families."
The boat was on a multi-day diving trip when it went down near the coastal town of Marsa Alam, according to a statement by the Red Sea Governorate.
Authorities were searching for 17 people who went missing, the governor of the Red Sea region said on Monday. Rescuers have saved 28 people, Governor Amr Hanafy said in a statement.
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Amr Hanafi said some survivors were rescued using a helicopter and have been taken to medical care. Efforts to locate more survivors were ongoing in coordination with the Egyptian navy and army.
The governorate said a distress call was received at 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) and that the boat had departed from Porto Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday, with plans to return to Hurghada Marina on Nov. 29.
The Red Sea is a popular diving destination renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, key to Egypt's vital tourism industry.
Built in 2022, Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure boat able to carry up to 32 passengers.With 18 twin cabins, the vessel takes tourists on diving trips to explore reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea.
