Following warnings of choppy waters, a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea, leaving at least 17 people missing, Egyptian officials reported Monday.
According to Red Sea region governor Amr Hanafy, 28 passengers were rescued from the ship south of the seaside town of Marsa Alam, and others were evacuated for medical care.
According to Hanafy, there were 14 staff members and 31 tourists of different nationalities on board.
Shortly before sunrise on Monday, the governorate was notified of a distress call from the yacht, which had departed Marsa Alam for a five-day voyage.
The cause of the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht’s sinking was not immediately apparent. However, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority issued a warning on Saturday about strong waves and turbulence in the Red Sea, and it advised against going out on the water on Sunday and Monday.
In Hurghada, Egypt, the phone operator for the yacht’s operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard, informed The Associated Press they had no information and hung up.
The Sea Story was constructed in 2022 and has a capacity of 36 passengers, according to their website.
The governorate was working with the Egyptian military to coordinate rescue efforts.
Due to the risks posed by the region’s conflicts, many travel agencies have ceased or reduced their operations in the Red Sea.
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