- A boat sank off the Egyptian coast in the Red Sea.
- There were 31 vacationers from several countries and 14 crew members on board.
- The region’s governor said 16 people were still missing. There had previously been talk of 17 missing people.
- The FDFA confirmed that there were two Swiss nationals among the passengers. One person was rescued and is uninjured, while the second is still missing.
Governor Amr Hanafi confirmed that rescue workers were still searching for the missing, including four Egyptians and 12 foreigners.
Two tourists from Switzerland were among the passengers on the holiday boat. One of the two people was rescued. The second person is still missing, the EDA confirmed. Also on board were around 20 holiday guests from other European countries as well as tourists from China, the USA and Egypt.
Emergency call made
The 40 meter long motor yacht “Sea Story” had been sailing in the Red Sea since Sunday. It had taken off from Port Ghalib and was due to arrive further north in Hurghada on Friday. The crew made an emergency call early in the morning and the yacht then sank, Hanafi said.
After the accident, an extensive search for survivors began in the area with the Egyptian navy. Hanafi said 28 survivors were found near the coastal city of Marsa Alam and were brought to safety by plane and a frigate belonging to the Egyptian armed forces and received medical care.
Apparently hit by a big wave
Little is known about the cause of the accident. According to preliminary reports based on statements from the boat’s crew and tourists, the boat was hit by a large wave that caused it to capsize, the governor said.
Some passengers were therefore in their cabins and could no longer get to safety. The director of a diving center reported that a surviving crew member said that the yacht was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night” and overturned.
Paramedics wait for survivors of the boat accident. Little is known about the cause of the accident. According to authorities, initial findings indicate that the ship was hit by a “suddenly large wave.”
Keystone/EPA
Authorities in Hurghada closed the city’s port and suspended shipping traffic on Sunday due to “bad weather conditions.” However, the weather conditions were good near Marsa Alam, said the manager of the diving center
Boat had not been in use for long
The “Sea Story” is a motor yacht that is only two years old and has cabins for more than 30 passengers. Travel providers advertise them as boats for multi-day diving excursions in the Red Sea. According to official information, the boat had no technical problems, had all the necessary permits before the voyage and was last checked for ship safety in March.
Egypt is very popular with holidaymakers because of its ancient sites and Red Sea resorts. The North African country has a pleasantly warm climate even during the winter months. For divers, the Red Sea offers some of the most spectacular diving sites in the world.
