More than a dozen missing after tourist yacht capsizes in Red Sea

A tourist yacht named Sea Story sank off the coast of Egypt’s Red Sea on Monday morning (25 November 2024), leaving three confirmed dead and 13 still missing. It is understood the yacht went down during rough weather near the coral reef of Shaab Satayah, south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam.

The Sea Story, a 34-metre, four-deck yacht built in 2022, was on a five-day diving trip with 31 tourists and 13 crew members aboard when it sent a distress signal at approximately 5:30am local time. Reports from the Red Sea governorate indicated the vessel capsized within five to seven minutes after being struck by a series of rough and high waves. Speaking to the media, survivors have indicated that some passengers were unable to escape from their cabins when the boat rapidly overturned.

Of the 44 people on board, 28 have been rescued so far, including people from the UK, Spain and China. Some were airlifted for medical treatment, while others were transported by boat to safety. Two Britons were confirmed among those rescued, while two others remain missing, according to the Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi. Poland, Finland, and Ireland have also reported their citizens as being among the missing or rescued.

Egypt’s Meteorological Authority had issued warnings of turbulent waters and high winds on the Red Sea at the time of the incident, advising against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday. Waves were reported to have reached heights of 10-13 feet (3-4 metres), with wind speeds up to 34 knots, leading to the closure of some marine routes.

The vessel, operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, departed from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on 24 November and was scheduled to dock at Hurghada Marina on 29 November. Officials confirmed the boat had passed a safety inspection in March 2024, and no technical issues were reported before the trip. The Sea Story was licensed to carry up to 36 passengers and featured 18 twin cabins with en-suite bathrooms, primarily catering to diving tourists exploring Red Sea coral reefs.

The Egyptian military and local authorities coordinated the rescue operation on Monday. Efforts have been hampered by rough weather, and as of Monday afternoon, prospects for finding additional survivors had diminished.

Passengers have been rescued after a yacht capsized off the Egyptian coast, believed to have been hit by a wave.

Two Britons are believed to be among more than a dozen people missing after the boat sank in the Red Sea.https://t.co/7O4eyUvsuD pic.twitter.com/VU2Uyws1IZ

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 26, 2024

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said, “We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.” Ireland, Poland, and Finland also confirmed they are providing consular support to their citizens.

The Red Sea is a major hub for Egypt’s tourism industry, renowned for its coral reefs and diving spots. However, this is not the first maritime accident in the region this year. Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Daedalus Reef, and in June, two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated from another sinking vessel.

In 2023, the Carlton Queen yacht, a 42-metre dive boat, sank after rolling onto its side off the coast of Egyptian city Hurghada. The same year, three British people were confirmed dead after a fire engulfed their dive boat Hurricane off the coast of Marsa Alam.

The investigation into the Sea Story’s sinking is ongoing.