A total of 16 people, including 12 foreign nationals, are missing after a tourist boat capsized in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt on Monday.
The vessel named Sea Story sank during a multi-day diving excursion, when it was carrying 44 passengers – 31 tourists and 13 crew members. According to the Red Sea Governorate, 28 people were rescued with minor injuries following the incident.
The boat had departed from Porto Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to return to Hurghada Marina on November 29. Preliminary findings suggest the boat was struck by a sudden large wave, causing it to capsize within seven minutes. A distress signal was received at 5:30am local time, and survivors were located near the Wadi el-Gemal area south of Marsa Alam.
“Some passengers were in their cabins, which is why they were unable to escape,” Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi stated.
The Egyptian Navy warship El Fateh and a number of military aircraft are conducting an extensive search for the missing people, with rescue teams working continuously. According to Ahram Online, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority had issued warnings regarding turbulent seas, advising a halt to maritime activities on Sunday and Monday due to wave heights of up to four meters (13 feet) in the Red Sea.
The foreign nationals aboard the vessel included individuals from Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and China. The identities of the missing persons have not been confirmed, but four Egyptians are among those unaccounted for.
The Sea Story had passed a technical inspection in March 2024, receiving a one-year safety certificate. It was the second boat accident in the area this year. In June, a vessel sank near Marsa Alam due to strong waves, though no casualties were reported.
The Red Sea, known for its vibrant coral reefs and marine life, is a popular diving destination and plays an important role in Egypt’s tourism industry.
In 2023, a motorboat fire off Marsa Alam left three British tourists missing, while 12 others were rescued. A similar incident happened near Egypt in 2016, when a boat carrying around 600 migrants sank in the Mediterranean, claiming at least 170 lives.