Tourists missing after boat capsizes off Egyptian coast
- Hge News
- Nov 26, 2024
- 1 min read
Egyptian authorities have said 17 people including tourists are missing after a tourist yacht capsized off the country’s Red Sea coast on Monday, with 28 others rescued.
The vessel, which was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities and a 14-member crew, sent out a distress call at 5.30am local time (2.30pm, AEST), said a statement from Egypt’s Red Sea governorate.
An AFP tally confirmed that tourists involved in the incident include nationals from Britain, China, Finland, Poland and Spain.
The Sea Story embarked on Sunday on a multi-day diving trip from Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam in the country’s southeast, and had been due to dock on Friday at the town of Hurghada, 200 kilometres north.
Governor Amr Hanafi said that some survivors were rescued by an aircraft, while others were transported to safety aboard a warship.
“Intensive search operations are underway in co-ordination with the navy and the armed forces,” Mr Hanafi added in a statement.
Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists.
Beijing’s embassy in Egypt said two of its nationals were “in good health” after being “rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea”, Chinese state media reported.
The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP that one of its nationals is missing.
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