A day after an Egyptian tourist boat sank in the Red Sea, three more survivors have been found, boosting hopes for the nine people still missing, including two British nationals.
According to provincial governor Amr Hanafi, rescue teams discovered two Belgian tourists and one Egyptian national alive, bringing the total number of survivors to 31.
However, the bodies of four passengers have been recovered, and rescue teams are still searching for the missing individuals.
Incident Details and Rescue Operations
The boat, named Sea Story, capsized near Shaab Satayah, a popular coral reef for diving, located off the resort town of Marsa Alam.
The incident took place early in the morning, and the boat, a 34-meter-long vessel, was struck by a high wave, causing it to capsize in just a few minutes.
Some passengers who were inside the cabins at the time were unable to escape, which contributed to the tragedy.
The boat had departed from the port of Ghalib on November 24 and was headed toward Hurghada Marina, with an expected arrival on November 29.
Rough weather conditions, including high waves and strong winds, were reported in the area at the time of the incident.
The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority had already closed maritime traffic on Sunday due to the stormy conditions.
While winds remained favorable around Marsa Alam until Sunday night, weather conditions worsened, making the search efforts more challenging.
Nationalities of the Victims and Survivors
Authorities have not yet confirmed the nationalities of all the victims, but there are reports of multiple foreign nationals among those involved in the accident.
Two Chinese nationals were rescued and are reported to be in good health. Additionally, the Polish and Finnish governments have confirmed their citizens are among the missing.
British authorities are also providing support to several British nationals and their families.
The boat’s owner, a local Egyptian national, confirmed that the Sea Story passed its last safety inspection in March 2024 and had a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.
The boat, which can accommodate up to 36 passengers, was built in 2022 and had 18 cabins for tourists on diving trips.
Previous Accidents in the Red Sea
This tragic incident follows another close call earlier in November when 30 people were rescued from a diving boat near the Deadalus reef in the Red Sea.
In June, a similar boat accident occurred, involving French tourists who were safely evacuated before the boat sank.
As search teams continue their efforts, it remains uncertain how many individuals are still missing and whether any more survivors will be found.
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