2024 Red Sea tourist boat disaster
| Time | 5:30 a.m. (GMT) |
|---|---|
| Cause | Capsizing |
| Participants | 44 |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Missing | 9 |
On 25 November 2024 a tourist boat, the Sea Story, sank in the Red Sea. In the immediate aftermath, sixteen people were confirmed missing, including twelve foreigners and four Egyptians, while 28 others were rescued.[1] The survivors were found in the Wadi El Gemal area of the sea.[1] The warship El Fateh of the Egyptian Navy assisted in the rescue.[1] The next day, four people were found dead, while the number of missing was lowered to nine.[2]
Background
[edit]The Red Sea coast is a major tourist destination in Egypt, however while dozens of dive boats operate every day the robust safety regulations are unevenly enforced. Earlier in November 2024, 30 people were rescued from a sinking boat near the Daedalus reef, in June 2024 24 French tourists were evacuated before the boat sank, and in 2023 three British tourists died after a fire broke out on their vessel.[3]
Sinking
[edit]Sea Story, a four-deck wooden-hulled motor yacht, had left Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam on 23 November for a diving trip of five days and was due to dock on 29 November in Hurghada.[3] The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of expected high seas on 24 and 25 November and advised against maritime activity for both days.[4] The boat was carrying 31 tourists from Britain, China, Finland, Poland, Slovakia and Spain as well as 13 crew.[1][5][3] A large wave struck the boat causing it to capsize and sink in 5-7 minutes.[6] A distress signal was received from a member of the crew by the regional Red Sea control center at 5:30 a.m. local time.[4]
Some of the survivors were airlifted from the rescue vessels for medical treatment, while others were assisted on the vessels until a military frigate transported them back to shore. Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafi indicated that military aircraft and naval units were still searching the day of the rescue for those still unaccounted for.[4] While authorities have not confirmed nationalities of the tourists the Chinese embassy reported two of their citizens were rescued, the Finnish foreign ministry that one of their citizens were missing, and the Polish foreign ministry confirmed that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Khalil, Hafsa; Gritten, David (25 November 2024). "Seventeen missing after Red Sea tourist boat sinks". BBC News. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Four bodies recovered from capsized tourist boat in Red Sea with nine missing". The Guardian. 26 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Egypt says 17 missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes". France 24. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ a b c Shawkat, Ahmed (2024-11-25). "Egypt tour boat sinks on Red Sea diving trip, leaving 17 people missing - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ Press, Associated (2024-11-25). "Egyptian authorities say 17 people missing after tourist boat sinks in Red Sea". CNN. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ "Egypt says over a dozen missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes". Agence France-Presse. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
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