4 bodies discovered after the sinking of a tourist boat, 8 people still wanted

Four survivors, including two Belgian tourists, a Swiss and an Egyptian, were found after the sinking of a tourist boat which occurred this Monday, November 25 off the coast of Egypt.

Four bodies were discovered this Tuesday, November 26 after the sinking of a tourist boat off the coast of Egypt on Monday, which was carrying 44 passengers, according to the governor of the Red Sea province, Amr Hanafi. Four people were also rescued, including two Belgian tourists, a Swiss and an Egyptian.

“Rescue operations are continuing” to find the eight people still missing, Amr Hanafi said in a statement.

The four victims have not yet been identified.

The ship sank in less than seven minutes

The Sea Story boat, with 31 tourists of different nationalities and 13 crew members on board, left Port Ghalib, in southeastern Egypt, on Sunday for a multi-day diving expedition. He was due to reach Hurghada, 200 kilometers further north, on Friday. But according to initial reports, “a sudden and large wave” hit the boat, causing it to capsize.

The ship sent distress signals at 5:30 a.m. local time, according to a statement from the Red Sea governorate, before sinking in less than seven minutes. 16 passengers were then trapped inside the ship.

According to the British media The Guardian, the Egyptian meteorological authority warned on Saturday of turbulence and strong waves on the Red Sea and had advised against all maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.

The first 28 survivors were evacuated this Monday aboard a military ship or by plane. The boat, which is owned by an Egyptian national, was carrying passengers from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and of Ireland.

Two Britons were among the first people rescued according to the BBC.

Among the missing are two Polish tourists and two Finns, according to the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Authorities said the boat was fully approved and had passed all checks. A preliminary investigation revealed no technical faults.