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Four Britons are among dozens of people feared missing after a tourist yacht was “hit by a wave” and sank off the coast of Egypt on Monday.
At least 17 people are feared missing despite a massive rescue operation saving 28 people from the imperilled vessel, according to the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafi.
The boat sank off the south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 31 tourists of various nationalities on board along with 14 crew members.
A surviving crew member said the boat was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.
Some tourists were airlifted to receive medical treatment. It has not been confirmed what caused the four-deck motor yacht to sink.
But the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about rough weather and large waves, advising against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday on the Red Sea.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Pictured: Survivors rescued from sinking ship
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 17:29
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 17:15
Chinese and Polish nationals declared safe
The Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were “in good health” after being “rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea”, Chinese state media reported.
Pawel Wronski, the Polish foreign ministry spokesman, said authorities “have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship”.
“That’s all we know about them. That’s all we can say for now,” he said. The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed one of its nationals is missing.
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 17:01
Yacht was ‘hit by a wave’ in middle of night
A surviving crew member said the boat was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.
By Monday afternoon, it had become increasingly “unlikely that the 17 missing would be rescued after 12 hours in the water,” he said.
The boat, named Sea Story, is a 144ft vessel built in 2022. It departed from Port Ghalib on Saturday and was scheduled to return to Hurghada Marina on 29 November.
A distress signal was received at 5.30am on Monday, after which contact was lost.
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 16:53
UK giving consular support to British families
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 16:51
What caused the yacht to sink?
It was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck motor yacht to sink after it departed from the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam on Monday.
But the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about rough weather and large waves, advising against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday on the Red Sea.
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 16:48
Four Britons feared missing in Red Sea
Four Britons are feared to be among the missing after a tourist yacht sank off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea.
At least 17 people are feared missing despite a massive rescue operation saving 28 people from the vessel, according to the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafi.
The boat sank off the south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 31 tourists of various nationalities on board along with 14 crew members.
Alexander Butler25 November 2024 16:42
