Marsa Alam, Egypt – A tourist cruise ship carrying passengers from over a dozen countries capsized and sank in the southern Red Sea on Sunday, leaving 16 people missing, Egyptian authorities said.
The vessel, named "Sea Story," was carrying 31 foreign tourists and 13 Egyptian crew members when it overturned and sank within five to seven minutes, said Amr Hanafi, governor of the Red Sea province.
The nationalities of the passengers included Germans, Britons, Americans, Poles, Belgians, Swiss, Finns, Chinese, Slovaks, Spaniards, and Irish.
Rescue teams managed to save 28 people, but 16 others, including 12 foreigners and four Egyptians, remained missing. The ship, which was 34 meters long and 9.5 meters wide, capsized 46 nautical miles from the coast of Marsa Alam.
Hanafi said that some passengers were trapped in their cabins and could not escape. Military frigates and aircraft have been deployed to intensify search and rescue operations, he added.
The governor said that the rescued passengers were transported to a hospital in Marsa Alam for medical examinations and treatment, mostly for bruises and abrasions.
The cruise ship had sent a distress signal at 5:30 AM, prompting the governor's control center to alert relevant agencies. Rescue teams, using helicopters and naval units, located the accident site.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Hanafi said the last maritime safety inspection was conducted in March 2024, and the ship was certified as fit for service for a year without any technical defects or safety issues.
The governor also confirmed that the ship did not cause any pollution or oil spills.
The Egyptian military said it had deployed several warships and aircraft from the naval base to join the search and rescue efforts.
The accident coincides with unstable weather conditions in Egypt. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had forecast turbulence in the Mediterranean and Red Seas and advised against all maritime activities on Sunday and Monday.
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