Amr Hanafi of the Red Sea province said that rescuers were still looking for 13 people who were missing after a tourist vessel capsized near Egypt's Red Sea coastline on Tuesday.

The Sea Story capsized near Sataya Reef on Monday, with 31 tourists and thirteen crew members on board.

Multi-day diving trips

. The ship was hit by large waves, and it sank within 5-7 minutes.

According to a Red Sea Governorate press release on Monday, 16 passengers are believed to be trapped.

Twenty-eight people were rescued, all with minor injuries. No one was hospitalised. The survivors were accommodated at a hotel in Marsa Alam where the authorities worked with consulates and embassies to provide documentation and assistance.

Hanafi stated that the boat passed its last inspection in March 2024 with no reported technical issues. The boat was owned by an Egyptian and measured 34 meters. It had received a safety certificate for a year from the Maritime Safety Authority.

The incident took place during rough weather. On Sunday, the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported that the area was experiencing wind speeds of 34 knots and wave heights between 10-13 feet (3-4 meters) in addition to 3-4 m (10-13 ft) of waves.

In June, another vessel was severely damaged by strong waves but no injuries were reported.

The Red Sea is Egypt's main tourism hub, a region renowned for its corals and marine life. Tourism plays an important role in Egypt's economy. (Reporting and writing by Mohamed Ezz, Editing by Peter Graff).

(source: Reuters)