Egypt: 17 missing after tourist boat sinks in Red Sea

The ship, which was carrying “31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 14 crew members,” launched distress signals at 5:30 a.m. (03:30 GMT), according to a statement from the Red Sea governorate.

The Sea Story, a cruise ship specializing in diving, left Port Ghalib, in southeastern Egypt, on Sunday for a multi-day expedition. He was due to reach Hurghada, 200 kilometers further north, on Friday.

The region’s governor, Amr Hanafi, said survivors were rescued during an air operation, while others were evacuated aboard a military ship.

“Research continues actively in collaboration with the navy and the armed forces,” he said in a statement.

The Red Sea, one of the main tourist destinations in Egypt, attracts millions of visitors every year.

The tourism sector, crucial for this country of 105 million inhabitants in the midst of an economic crisis, employs around two million people and contributes to more than 10% of its GDP.