16 rescued, search ongoing for missing after tourist boat sinks off Egypt’s Red Sea coast

A safari boat sank off the northern coast of Marsa Alam in Egypt's Red Sea province on Monday, leaving 45 people missing, including 31 tourists and 14 crew members.

"Some survivors have been found and dispatched by airplane to receive medical care. Intensive efforts are underway in search for the missing in coordination with the armed and naval forces," Amro Hanfy, governor of the Red Sea Province, told Xinhua, without giving the exact number of the survivors, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

He urged people nearby to avoid the accident spot so that the rescue team could carry out their duties.

According to initial information, the boat sank near a coral reef in north Marsa Alam, Hanfy added.

The control center in the Red Sea province received a distress signal from the boat named "Sea Story" around 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Monday from a crew member, the statement said.

The boat, on a diving trip, left Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Nov. 24 and was scheduled to return to Hurghada Marina on Nov. 29, it added.

Governor Amr Hanafi said some survivors were rescued using a helicopter and have been taken to medical care. Efforts to locate more survivors were ongoing in coordination with the Egyptian navy and army.

The governorate said a distress call was received at 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) and that the boat had departed from Porto Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday, with plans to return to Hurghada Marina on Nov. 29.

The Red Sea is a popular diving destination renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, key to Egypt's vital tourism industry.

News.Az