A ship with 45 people on board sank Monday morning off the coast of Marsa Alam, an Egyptian holiday resort on the Red Sea. There are currently 17 people still missing.
The 44-meter Sea Story left Marsa Alam on Sunday with divers and snorkelers on board for a multi-day trip to Hurghada, located further north, where it was supposed to arrive on November 29. However, a distress signal was sent from the ship around 5:30 on Monday morning, after which all contact was lost. Shortly afterwards, the boat sank off the coast of Marsa Alam, probably near the Shaab Sataya reef.
There were 45 people on board: 31 tourists and 14 crew members. According to local media, the tourists included four Britons, two Americans, four Germans, two Belgians, five Spaniards, one Chinese, three Slovaks, two Swiss, two Poles, two Norwegians, one Finn, one Irishman and several Egyptians. The crew members all have Egyptian nationality.
Major rescue operation
Local authorities reported that ships were able to bring passengers to safety. The rescue operation is in full swing, and so far, 28 drowning people have been pulled out of the water alive. The 17 others are still missing.
According to various media, the ship is 44 meters long and has 18 double cabins equipped with air conditioning. Four bridal suites, a lounge, and a restaurant are also on board.
The Red Sea is a popular diving destination known for its coral reefs and marine life, which are important to Egypt’s tourism industry.