Four bodies were discovered this Tuesday, November 26, after the sinking on Monday of a tourist boat off the coast of Egypt that was carrying 44 passengers, according to the governor of the Red Sea province, Amr Hanafi. Three people were also rescued, including two Belgian tourists and an Egyptian.
“Rescue operations continue and have found nine people still missing,” Amr Hanafi said in a statement.
The four victims have not yet been identified.
The ship sank in less than seven minutes.
The Sea Story ship, with 31 tourists of different nationalities and 13 crew members on board, left Port Ghalib in southeastern Egypt on Sunday for a multi-day diving expedition. It was due to arrive on Friday in Hurghada, 200 kilometers further north. But according to initial reports, “a sudden, large wave” hit the ship, causing it to capsize.
The ship sent distress signals at 05:30 local time, according to a statement from the Red Sea governorate, before sinking in less than seven minutes. Then, 16 passengers were trapped inside the ship.
According to the British media The Guardian, the Egyptian meteorological authority warned on Saturday of turbulence and strong waves in the Red Sea and advised against all maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.
The first 28 survivors were evacuated this Monday aboard a military ship or by plane. The ship, owned by an Egyptian citizen, was carrying passengers from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
According to the BBC, two Britons were among the first people rescued.
Source: BFM TV
