Rescuers recovered four bodies and four survivors on Tuesday, November 26, the day after the sinking of a tourist boat off the east coast of Egypt. Eight people are still missing.
2 mins
The Sea Story left Port Ghalib, near Marsa Alam, on Sunday for a multi-day diving expedition. He was due to reach Hurghada, 200 kilometers further north, on Friday. The boat was carrying 31 tourists of different nationalities along with 13 crew members, when it was hit by a large wave early Monday which caused it to capsize near Marsa Alam, in the southeast ofEgypt.
The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafi, said the boat sank within 5 to 7 minutes. Some passengers – among them European, Chinese and American tourists – were unable to leave their cabins in time.
Among the survivors recovered this Tuesday are two Belgians, a Swiss and an Egyptian, said the governor of the Red Sea, Amr Hanafi. This brings the total number of survivors to 32. The four dead have not yet been identified and eight people are still missing. “ Rescue operations continue today, with the support of a military helicopter and a frigate as well as several divers “, said Amr Hanafi.
Two Poles and two Finns among the missing
Army rescuers and a passing tourist boat rescued 28 people on Monday. According to a hospital source in Marsa Alam, six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries and discharged from the hospital the same day.
Among the missing are two Polish tourists and two Finns, according to the foreign ministries of the two countries. Authorities said the boat was fully approved and had passed all checks. A preliminary investigation revealed no technical faults. The accident is at least the third of its kind reported this year near Marsa Alam.
Also readDeaths on pilgrimage to Mecca: Egypt sanctions tourism companies