Sixteen people, including 12 foreign nationals, are missing after a tourist boat, Sea Story, capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast near Marsa Alam, the Red Sea Governorate announced on Monday.
The vessel, carrying 44 people—31 tourists and 13 crew—was on a multi-day diving excursion when it sank early Monday morning. Authorities revised earlier reports that indicated 14 Egyptian crew were aboard.
Twenty-eight individuals were rescued with only minor injuries such as bruises and scrapes, none requiring hospitalization. However, Governor Amr Hanafi stated that some passengers could not escape as they were trapped in their cabins when the boat capsized within 5–7 minutes due to a sudden large wave.
A distress call was received at 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT), shortly after the boat had departed from Porto Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday. The vessel, owned by an Egyptian national, was en route to Hurghada Marina, scheduled to return on November 29.
Rescue operations by Egyptian armed forces using frigates and aircraft commenced immediately but were paused at 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) due to nightfall. The search for the missing is expected to resume on Tuesday.
Foreign nationals aboard the 34-meter-long vessel included tourists from the United States, Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland. The Egyptian authorities are working closely with embassies, consulates, and other relevant agencies to support rescued passengers, who are currently housed in a hotel in Marsa Alam.
The British Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support to its nationals and their families involved in the incident.
The Sea Story had passed a technical inspection by the Maritime Safety Authority in March 2024, earning a one-year validity certificate, Governor Hanafi said. Initial findings showed no faults with the vessel.
The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority noted that adverse weather conditions contributed to the incident, with winds reaching 34 knots and waves as high as 3–4 meters (10–13 feet). Maritime traffic in the area was suspended on Sunday afternoon.
The Sataya Reef, where the boat is suspected to have sunk, is a popular site for divers. The Red Sea is a major attraction for tourists due to its coral reefs and marine life, which are vital to Egypt’s tourism industry.
This marks the second boat sinking in the area this year. In June, another vessel capsized due to severe wave damage, although no casualties were reported.
