16 Missing After Tourist Vessel Capsizes in Red Sea
Sixteen people are missing after a tourist ship carrying 44 people sank Monday in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt, amid warnings of rough waters, Egyptian officials reported.
Governor Amr Hanafy provided the update on the search and rescue operation through a social media post later that day, confirming that the wooden-hulled, motorized, four-deck yacht Sea Story had put out a distress call after departing from Marsa Alam for a five-day voyage. Survivors suffering minor injuries have since transferred to a local hotel in excellent condition, the governorate’s post noted.
Passengers onboard included 13 Egyptians and 31 foreign nationals, including those from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
The Egyptian military is leading ongoing search efforts, assisted by the Red Sea Governorate.
Preliminary reports suggest that a large wave caused the boat to take on large amounts of water, trapping some passengers in cabins as the vessel sank. Passengers report having little more than minutes to escape as the ship began rapidly taking on water.
The boat had no reported technical issues and underwent its last inspection in March, according to officials. However, Egypt’s Meteorological Authority had cautioned against maritime activity due to high waves on the Red Sea over the weekend.
According to its website, the Sea Story was built in 2022 and can hold 36 passengers.
Meanwhile, off the Greek island of Samos, eight migrants, including six children, drowned after their boat capsized, Greek officials said Monday.
