Fifth survivor found alive 30 hours after boat capsized in Red Sea but no sign of missing Brits as search continues
26 November 2024, 12:33 | Updated: 26 November 2024, 14:53
Rescue teams in Egypt have found five tourists alive 30 hours after their luxury boat sank in the Red Sea after being 'hit by a huge wave'.
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The survivors are said to include a Finnish national, a person from Switzerland, two Belgian tourists and an Egyptian.
The dive boat ferrying the tourists sank off the Egyptian coast on Monday, with a rescue mission subsequently launched.
Thirty-three people have been rescued and seven are still missing, including two Britons.
The luxury holiday boat sank off the coast of Marsa Alarm in high winds.
The Sea Story tourist boat made a distress call before dawn on Monday that a 'high sea wave' had hit the boat, causing it to capsize in a matter of minutes.
Amr Hanafi, governor of the Red Sea region, said that according to those on board, a "high sea wave" hit the boat and caused it to capsize in "about five or seven minutes".
Some passengers were inside their cabins, "which is why they couldn't get out".
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.
Wind speeds were between 37-43 mph (60-70 kmph) and wave heights were three to four metres (10-13ft) high.
No further information on the nationalities or identities of the victims has yet been released.
One Irish national, who was also aboard the vessel when it capsized in Egypt, is said to be "OK".
Ireland's foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin confirmed the national had been found alive, adding on Tuesday: "My understanding is that Irish citizen is OK and receiving consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs".
Read more: Four Brits 'among 17 missing' after tourist yacht hit by 'huge wave' capsizes off the coast of Egypt
The boat, Sea Story, sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips.
According to their website, the 44 metres long ship was built in 2022 and has 18 twin cabins with en suite bathrooms and a separate dining area.
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.
However, the incident has left many locals worried about the long-term economic impacts in such a tourist reliant region.
Such a tragic incident could have serious repercussions on the tourism industry, a lifeline to an ailing Egyptian economy.
