Egyptian naval forces rescued five more people on Tuesday and recovered four bodies after the Sea Story tourist yacht sank near Marsa Alam in the Red Sea, following rough weather.
This raises the total number of survivors to 33, with seven individuals still missing. The vessel, carrying 44 passengers, capsized on Monday after a large wave struck it. Survivors reported that the boat overturned in minutes, trapping some passengers in their cabins.
The yacht, designed for live-aboard diving trips, had departed Port Ghalib on Sunday and was en route to Hurghada. It sank 46 nautical miles from Marsa Alam. Officials confirmed the yacht was built in 2022, had no technical issues, and was last inspected in March.
The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said Tuesday’s rescued survivors included two Belgians, a Swiss citizen, a Finn, and an Egyptian. The nationalities of the four recovered bodies are yet to be identified.
Among the passengers were 13 Egyptians, including crew, and 31 foreign nationals from countries including Germany, the U.S., Poland, Belgium, and Switzerland. German authorities reported three nationals remain missing, while Polish officials confirmed two missing citizens.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of rough seas over the weekend, advising against naval activities. Despite the conditions, the Sea Story had set sail. Rescue operations, involving the military, continue as search efforts focus on the remaining missing passengers.
Marsa Alam is a renowned diving destination, famed for its marine biodiversity and challenging dive sites.
