Tourist boat sinks in Egypt, many foreign tourists missing

The 44-meter-long Sea Story cruise ship was built in 2022 and can carry 48 people.

INDEPENDENT SCREENSHOT

The Red Sea provincial government (Egypt) said on November 25 that 16 people were missing after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea, including 12 foreign tourists.

The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 tourists and 13 crew members, when it sank near the town of Marsa Alam while on a multi-day diving trip. Twenty-eight people were rescued and suffered only minor injuries that did not require hospitalisation.

According to Reuters, citing Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi, preliminary reports showed that a large wave suddenly hit the ship and caused it to capsize within 5-7 minutes. "Some passengers were in the cabin and did not have time to escape," he said.

The provincial government said it received a distress call from the ship at around 5:30 a.m. on November 25. The cruise ship had departed from Porto Ghalib port in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to return to shore in the Hurghada Marina area on November 29.

Egyptian Armed Forces escort ships and aircraft searched the area for the missing people, but by 5 p.m. on Nov. 25, the search had been suspended for the night, a government source told Reuters on Nov. 25.

The boat is nearly 44 meters long and is owned by an Egyptian. The passengers on board include Americans, Belgians, British, Chinese, Finnish, Germans, Irish, Polish, Slovak, Spanish and Swiss nationals.

Mr Hanafi said Egypt is working with embassies, consulates and relevant agencies to facilitate the documentation of the rescued passengers and ensure their needs are met. They are currently being accommodated at a hotel in Marsa Alam.

The UK Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance to a number of British nationals and their families following the incident in Egypt and was in contact with local authorities.

The Red Sea is a popular diving destination known for its coral reefs and marine life, and is vital to Egypt’s vital tourism industry. Mr Hanafi said the ship likely sank near the Sataya reef, but did not provide further details.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chim-tau-du-lich-o-ai-cap-nhieu-du-khach-nuoc-ngoai-mat-tich-185241126095503727.htm