This handout picture released by the Egyptian State Information Service shows first-responders tending to a man on a stretcher in the Red Sea harbour town of Marsa Alam on November 25, 2024. - Egyptian authorities said more than a dozen people including foreigners were still missing after a tourist yacht capsized in the Red Sea on November 25, with 28 others rescued. (Photo by EGYPTIAN SIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / EGYPTIAN STATE INFORMATION SERVICE - / HANDOUT / " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Egypt released footage on Wednesday showing tourists rescued from a boat that capsized off the Red Sea coast, resulting in at least four deaths.
Seven people are still missing more than two days after the incident, which occurred when the vessel “Sea Story” was struck by a wave and overturned in the early hours of the morning.
The boat, carrying 31 tourists—mostly Europeans and Chinese and US nationals—and a 13-member crew- had set off from Port Ghalib, near Marsa Alam, on Sunday for a multi-day diving trip.
An image grab taken from a video made available by Egypt’s Red sea governors office on November 25, 2024 shows rescue workers helping tourists and crew members after a diving boat capsized in the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast. – Rescuers recovered four bodies and three survivors on November 26, a day after a a boat capsized off of Egypt’s eastern coast, according to Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi, with nine people still missing. (Photo by Red Sea governors office / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / RED SEA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
A total of 33 people were rescued, including tourists shown in the video stepping off a speedboat wrapped in blankets at a marina near Marsa Alam.
One of the survivors in the video said, “We were shaking with cold.” These tourists had been trapped inside the overturned vessel for over 24 hours before being located by rescuers on Tuesday morning.
An image grab taken from a video made available by Egypt’s Red sea governors office on November 25, 2024 shows rescue workers helping tourists and crew members after a diving boat capsized in the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast. – Rescuers recovered four bodies and three survivors on November 26, a day after a a boat capsized off of Egypt’s eastern coast, according to Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi, with nine people still missing. (Photo by Red Sea governors office / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / RED SEA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
The military-led rescue team saved several individuals, including two Belgians, one Swiss, one Finnish, and one Egyptian. Two survivors were seen being carried out on stretchers, one of whom was conscious and speaking. A Belgian tourist broke down in tears when an Egyptian general greeted her.
Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi stated that the boat capsized “suddenly and quickly” within five to seven minutes after being struck by a powerful wave, leaving some passengers unable to escape.
This handout picture released by the Egyptian State Information Service shows Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi speaking to survivors rescued from a capsized vessel in the Red Sea harbour town of Marsa Alam on November 25, 2024. – Egyptian authorities said more than a dozen people including foreigners were still missing after a tourist yacht capsized in the Red Sea on November 25, with 28 others rescued. (Photo by EGYPTIAN SIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / EGYPTIAN STATE INFORMATION SERVICE – / HANDOUT / ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
The Sea Story had been due to dock on Friday at Hurghada, around 200 kilometres from Marsa Alam. Authorities confirmed the vessel was fully licensed, had passed all inspections, and no technical faults were found.
Similar boat accidents occurred in the Marsa Alam area earlier this year, though without fatalities. The Red Sea is a popular tourist destination, with daily boat traffic and robust but unevenly enforced safety regulations.
Chinomso Sunday is a Digital Content Writer at News Central. Her expertise spans special reports, developmental insights, and investigative journalism. Additionally, she holds roles as an Editor, Online Reputation Manager, and Digital Marketing Strategist, contributing her combined skills to her professional endeavours.
