Five Rescued After Red Sea Tourist Boat Capsizes, Search Continues for Missing

The search and recovery operation in the Red Sea has led to the rescue of five survivors and the recovery of four bodies following the sinking of a tourist boat on Monday. With 44 individuals on board, including 31 passengers and 13 crew members, the modern four-deck vessel, named Sea Story, capsized after reportedly being struck by a significant wave near Marsa Alam. As of the evening on Tuesday, a total of 33 people had been rescued, but seven individuals were still unaccounted for, raising concerns among families and authorities alike.The Egyptian authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased. However, reports indicate that two of the missing passengers are British nationals, with others from Poland and Finland also untraceable. The boat’s distress call was made at approximately 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), shortly before it sank within five to seven minutes, as confirmed by the Red Sea governor, Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi. Eyewitnesses noted that some individuals were unable to escape from their cabins in time. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, 28 individuals were rescued by a combination of military personnel and a nearby tourist vessel. The rescue operations extended into the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, where additional survivors were located. The Sea Story, which embarked on a five-day diving expedition from a port near Marsa Alam, encountered rough conditions believed to have developed overnight, with wind speeds reaching 37-43 mph (60-70 km/h) and wave heights of three to four meters (10-13 ft).The local council confirmed that the tourists on board represented a diverse mix of nationalities, including individuals from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the US. The UK Foreign Office is currently working to assist the families of British nationals involved in the incident, while the Chinese embassy reported that two of its citizens were among those rescued and are reportedly in good health. Marsa Alam is a renowned tourist destination along Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, known for its spectacular diving spots and coral reefs. Following the incident, Red Sea authorities confirmed that the Sea Story was owned by an Egyptian national, which had passed a comprehensive safety inspection just last year. The state of the vessel at the time of the tragedy indicated that there were no mechanical faults contributing to the incident. Survivors have been provided with shelter at a local tourist hotel and, according to officials, none required hospitalization. The captain and crew are also expected to cooperate with investigations into the causes behind the sinking, as authorities assess the implications for future maritime safety in the area, especially in light of a previous incident last year involving a boat fire that resulted in three fatalities.