Egyptian authorities have reported that 17 individuals, including foreigners, are missing after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea, while 28 others have been rescued.
Among those unaccounted for are two British nationals and one Finnish citizen, according to officials.
The incident involved the Sea Story, which had departed from Marsa Alam on Sunday for a planned five-day diving expedition.
The vessel carried 31 tourists and 14 crew members, all of whom were Egyptian. A distress signal was sent at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), according to the Red Sea province governor.
Search efforts are ongoing, with the Egyptian Navy and armed forces deploying the warship El Fateh and military aircraft to locate the missing.
“Intensive search operations are underway in co-ordination with the navy and the armed forces,” said Red Sea Governor Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi.
Rescuers have reportedly found survivors in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, and provided medical care to them.
Authorities have not identified the cause of the sinking, though adverse weather conditions may have played a role.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of turbulent conditions in the Mediterranean and Red Seas over the weekend, citing wind speeds of 60-70 km/h and wave heights reaching three to four meters.
The Sea Story is a relatively new vessel, built in 2022. It spans 44 meters (144 feet), has four decks, and can accommodate up to 36 passengers in its 18 cabins, according to information on the website of its owner, Dive Pro Liveaboard.
However, there has been no comment from the company regarding the incident.
Passengers aboard included five Spanish nationals, four British, four Germans, two Americans, and others whose nationalities are yet to be disclosed.
Finnish authorities confirmed that one of their citizens is among the missing, while the Chinese embassy stated that two Chinese nationals had been rescued and were in good health.
A British Foreign Office spokesperson affirmed that the government is in touch with Egyptian authorities and is assisting affected British nationals and their families.
.eanwhile, Poland is investigating reports that two Polish citizens might also have been on board.
A staff member at a nearby diving resort shared details of the incident with AFP, citing a rescued crew member who claimed the boat was struck by a wave during the night, causing it to capsize.
A popular tourist hub on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, Marsa Alam, is renowned for its diving spots and coral reefs, which attract visitors from around the world.
This tragedy follows another incident in 2023, where three Britons lost their lives off Marsa Alam’s coast when their dive boat caught fire.
