Five survivors rescued day after tourist boat sank in Red Sea – as search for missing ‘intensifies’

Five survivors have been rescued and four bodies recovered in efforts to find people missing after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea, a local official has said.

Two British people are believed to have been among the missing.

Egyptian military forces, which are co-ordinating operations, have now rescued 37 people out of the 44 on board – including five the day after it capsized. It means seven people are still missing and rescue teams have been “intensifying efforts” to find them.

Governor of the Red Sea region Amr Hanafi said that two Belgians, one Swiss, one Finnish and one Egyptian national were rescued on Tuesday, and four bodies had been recovered – although their nationalities are unknown.

“Survivors are being provided with necessary medical care,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

The 34-metre-long tourist boat Sea Story sank on Monday south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam.

Among the foreign nationals on board were those from the UK, Ireland, US, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia and Spain.

According to those on board, a “high sea wave” hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in “about five or seven minutes”, Mr Hanafi said.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, “which is why they couldn’t get out of the boat,” his statement added.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office spokesperson said on Monday: “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.”

The Sea Story left Port Ghalib, 40 miles (63km) north of Marsa Alam, on Sunday and was scheduled to reach its destination of Hurghada Marina on 29 November.

Officials said a distress call was received at 5.30am local time on Monday.

The boat sank 46 nautical miles off the coast of Marsa Alam.

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The incident comes after the Egyptian Meteorological Authority issued a warning on Saturday about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea.

The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, said it has no information on the matter.

The Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS), a group founded by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism, praised rescue teams for their “tireless efforts”.

“The CDWS team and board members are praying that the missing passengers are found safely and hoping that they will reunite with their families and loved ones soon,” the statement on Facebook added.