This is what “Sea Story” looks like.Bild: liveaboard
After the boat accident off the Egyptian coast on Tuesday, rescuers rescued four survivors and recovered four bodies. Among the survivors was a Swiss man who had previously been missing, as Amr Hanafi, the governor responsible for the region, announced. The number of survivors increased to 32.
The three people also rescued on Tuesday were two Belgian tourists and an Egyptian. A second Swiss man was rescued uninjured on Monday, as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) announced on Monday.
Eight people were still missing on Tuesday. The search for them is continuing with an Egyptian military frigate and helicopters as well as divers, the Egyptian authorities said. In addition, four bodies were recovered on Tuesday, which, according to Governor Hanafi, have not yet been identified.
Hit by a big wave
The “Sea Story” had a total of 31 tourists of various nationalities and 13 crew members on board when the ship was hit by a large wave early on Monday, causing it to capsize near Marsa Alam in southeast Egypt.
Egyptian authorities reported on Monday that the ship sank within five to seven minutes after being hit by the wave. Some passengers, including tourists from Europe, China and the USA, were unable to leave their cabins on time.
Army rescue workers and a passing tourist boat rescued 28 people from the water on Monday. According to a hospital source in Marsa Alam, six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries – and released from the hospital the same day.
According to Egyptian authorities, the ship set off on Sunday from Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam on a multi-day diving expedition. It was expected to reach the holiday destination of Hurghada, 200 kilometers further north, on Friday.
Governor Amr Hanafi speaks to survivors of the disaster.Bild: keystone
According to the governor’s office, there were 31 vacationers from several countries and 14 crew members on board. The yacht then sent out a distress signal early on Monday morning. 28 people were rescued by air operations and a warship, Governor Amr Hanafi announced. An intensive search is underway for the missing people.
Boating accidents all the time
The Swiss representation in Cairo was in contact with the responsible authorities and those affected. According to the information, these were supported as part of consular protection. The Swiss Foreign Ministry did not provide any further information.
The tourism sector contributes more than 10 percent of Egypt’s gross domestic product and employs two million people. The Red Sea is considered one of the country’s top tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year.
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.
Every day, dozens of submersibles explore the coral reefs and islands off Egypt’s east coast, where strict safety regulations are applied differently. At the beginning of November, 30 people were rescued when a diving boat sank near the famous Deadalus Reef.
Last June, 20 French tourists were evacuated uninjured before their boat sank in a similar accident. A year earlier, three British tourists died when a fire destroyed their yacht.
But the “Sea Story,” which underwent an inspection in the spring and sank on Tuesday, was said to have no technical defects, according to Governor Amr Hanafi. Travel providers are advertising the two-year-old motor yacht with cabins for more than 30 passengers for multi-day diving excursions in the Red Sea. (sda/lyn)
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