A search and rescue team is “intensifying its efforts” to find 16 people, reportedly including two Britons, who are missing after their yacht capsized in the Red Sea.
The 34-metre-long tourist boat Sea Story sank on Monday south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 44 people on board.
Egyptian military forces, which are co-ordinating operations, have already rescued 28 people “in cooperation with a cruise ship that happened to be in the area”.
In a statement on Facebook, it said “the general command of the armed forces has also issued its orders to the Navy to intensify its… search operations” for 16 people who are still missing.
Pic: Egyptian Armed Forces
According to those on board, a “high sea wave” hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in “about five or seven minutes”, said the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafi.
Some passengers were inside the cabins, “which is why they couldn’t get out of the boat”, his statement on Facebook said.
Among the foreign nationals on board were those from the US, UK, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office spokesperson said: “We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Officials said a distress call was received at 5.30am local time on Monday.
The Sea Story set sail on Sunday for a five-day trip. Pic: Dive Pro Liveaboard
The boat had left Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to reach its destination of Hurghada Marina on 29 November.
The incident comes after the Egyptian Meteorological Authority issued a warning on Saturday about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea.
The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, said it has no information on the matter.