Shipwreck in the Red Sea: the two Swiss found alive

(Keystone-ATS) The Swiss representation in Cairo is in contact with the competent authorities and relatives, adds the FDFA. This provides them with support within the framework of consular protection. For reasons of data and personal protection, no other information can be communicated.

Among five survivors rescued on Tuesday, in addition to the Swiss, there are two Belgians, a Finn and an Egyptian, said the governor of the Red Sea, Amr Hanafi, bringing the total number of survivors to 33.

Egyptian rescuers also recovered four dead bodies on Tuesday, which have not yet been identified. In total, seven people are still missing.

According to a government source close to the rescue operations, the five survivors and four bodies were found Tuesday morning inside the boat, which had been overturned on its side by a violent wave in the middle of the night without sinking completely. The survivors “were found in a room which had not filled with water,” she told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The group had spent at least 24 hours in the overturned vessel after authorities received the first distress signals at 5:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. Swiss time) on Monday.

Continuation of operations

“Rescue operations continue today, with the support of a military helicopter and a frigate as well as several divers,” Mr. Hanafi told AFP.

The boat was carrying 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members, when it was hit by a large wave early Monday which caused it to capsize near Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt.

Army rescuers and a passing tourist boat rescued 28 people on Monday. According to a hospital source in Marsa Alam, six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries and released from hospital on Monday.