Search for 17 missing from Red Sea boat enters second day

The Sea Story left port near the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving trip, officials said.

The boat with 44 people on board sent a distress signal at 05:30 (03:30 GMT) on Monday, according to the governor of the Red Sea governorate.

Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi said the boat sank within five to seven minutes.

Survivors were found in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, he added.

On Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority issued warnings about turbulence and high waves on the Mediterranean and Red seas.

Wind speeds were between 37-43 mph (60-70 kmph), and wave heights were three to four metres (10-13ft) high, they said.

According to the local council in Marsa Alam, the crew of the Sea Story are all Egyptians while the tourists on board included five Spanish, four British, four Germans and two US nationals.

There was also an Irish person on board the ship, the Red Sea governor said, though it its not known if they are among the missing.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they were providing "support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt".

The Chinese embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals were "in good health" after being rescued.

Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast. It is surrounded by diving spots, including renowned coral reefs.

The Red Sea governorate said the boat was owned by an Egyptian national, and had received a one-year validity certificate in March 2024 when it was inspected by maritime safety.

Hanafi said there were no technical faults at the time of the incident.

He also visited Marsa Alam to see the people rescued, and said they were all in good health, and no-one had needed admission to hospital. The passengers are being received in a tourist hotel in the area, he added.

There was no immediate comment from Sea Story's Egypt-based owner and operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard.

But it website says the vessel was built in 2022 and is 44m (144ft) long. It has four decks and 18 cabins that can accommodate up to 36 passengers.

Last year, three Britons died off the coast of Marsa Alam after their dive boat caught fire.