Tragedy struck off the Egyptian coast as a boat carrying dozens of tourists sank near the Shaab Satayah coral reef, a popular diving destination near the resort town of Marsa Alam. The vessel, named Sea Story, reportedly sent a distress signal at 5:30 a.m. before vanishing from radar, leaving many passengers unaccounted for.
The boat embarked on a diving expedition from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24, with plans to dock at Hurghada Marina on November 29. Onboard were 31 tourists of various nationalities and 14 crew members.
While some tourists were rescued near the Ghadeer area of Wai El Gemal, Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy has yet to confirm the number of individuals still missing. Rescue efforts, led by the Egyptian navy, are ongoing, with helicopters deployed to comb the vast search area. However, challenging weather conditions have complicated the operation.
Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking platform, recorded the Sea Story’s last known position near Hurghada. The 144-foot pleasure craft, built in 2022, had a maximum capacity of 32 passengers and was designed for luxury diving excursions.
