CAIRO — Three more people — two Belgians and an Egyptian — were rescued after a tourist boat capsized off the coast of Egypt on Monday, bringing the number of survivors to 31, regional governor Amr Hanafy said on Tuesday.
Four bodies, whose identities were not publicly disclosed, were also recovered from the sea, he added.
The story of the sea sink down From the southeastern Egyptian town of Marsa Alam, near the Shaab Satayah area, which is known for its coral reefs, the Red Sea Governorate said. There were 44 people on board when it sank, authorities said.
Divers prepare for a training session with tourists near the beach who survived a boat that capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast yesterday, in Marsa Alam, Egypt, November 26, 2024.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters
Rescue teams were searching for nine missing people, Hanafy said on Tuesday. Two British nationals are among the missing, a diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity told ABC News on Tuesday.
Egyptian authorities were working with embassies and consulates to provide the necessary assistance and documentation, according to a statement from the governor. The US Embassy in Cairo told ABC News that it was not aware of any US citizens killed in the incident.
Divers prepare for a training session with tourists on the beach where they survived a boat that capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast yesterday in Marsa Alam, Egypt, November 26, 2024.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters
Hanafi said the strong waves overturned and sank the boat within minutes. He said the 34-metre boat, privately owned by an Egyptian citizen, had no technical problems and had passed its final safety inspection in March.
The Sea Story departed Marsa Alam’s Ghalib Harbor for diving on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday. A crew member sent a distress signal at 5:30 a.m. Monday before the ship dropped off radar, officials said.
Egypt’s Red Sea resorts are popular among tourists for their beaches and diving spots.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
