A tourist boat carrying 44 people sank in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt on November 26, 2024 after being hit by a large wave. A total of 33 people have been rescued so far, with seven still missing.
Incident Report: Tourist Boat Sinks in Red Sea
On November 26, 2024, a tourist boat carrying 44 people sank in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt.
Details of the Incident
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The four-deck modern vessel was hit by a large wave while traveling to its destination.
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The boat capsized, causing it to take on water and eventually sink.
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A total of 28 people were rescued by military personnel and a passing tourist boat in the hours following the incident.
Search Efforts
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Search teams are intensifying their efforts to find the missing individuals, including two British nationals.
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The rescue operation is being led by Egyptian authorities, with assistance from international teams.
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The search area has been expanded to cover a wider region of the Red Sea.
Safety Concerns
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The incident has raised concerns about the safety standards of liveaboard boats (LOBs) in Egypt.
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Some commenters have expressed surprise at the lack of electronics and basic safety features on these vessels.
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There have been previous incidents involving LOBs, including the total loss of the Sea Story and Sea Legend, which were owned by Dive Pro Liveaboards.
Incident Summary
A tourist boat carrying 44 people sank in the Red Sea on Monday, November 26th, 2024. The incident occurred near Marsa Alam, Egypt, after the vessel was hit by a large wave. A total of 33 people have been rescued so far, with seven still missing as of Tuesday evening.
Rescue Efforts
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Military personnel and a passing tourist boat assisted in rescuing 28 people in the hours following the capsizing.
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Five Egyptian rescuers found four bodies and five survivors on Tuesday during a search operation.
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The governor reported that additional survivors were found in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam.
Vessel Information
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The 44m (144ft) Sea Story yacht was a four-deck modern vessel.
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It had been carrying 31 passengers and 13 crew members when it capsized.
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The vessel was on a five-day diving trip that was supposed to finish further north at the town of Hurghada.
Investigation
An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. The authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the boat. The findings of the investigation will be made public once they are available.
