Sixteen people are missing and 28 have been rescued after a tourist ship sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, Egyptian authorities announced on Monday. Local media have reported four Belgians were believed to be on board.
The ship, which was carrying 31 tourists of different nationalities and 13 crew members, sent out distress signals at 03:30 GMT (05:30 Belgian time) on Monday, according to a statement from the Red Sea governorate in southeastern Egypt.
The governorate said 16 people were missing: four Egyptians and 12 foreigners. It added that the vessel had been carrying passengers from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
Local media reported that four Belgians were on board, but this has not yet been confirmed by Belgium's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
What do we know so far?
The ship named the 'Sea Story' had left Port Ghalib, near Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt, on Sunday for an expedition, expected to take several days. It was due to reach Hurghada, 200 km further north, on Friday next week.
Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi, said in a statement that, according to initial reports, a sudden, large wave hit the boat, causing it to capsize. Some passengers were unable to escape as they were in the cabins.
Governor Hanafi said some survivors were rescued in an air operation, while others were evacuated on board a military vessel. The search was actively continuing in collaboration with the navy and the armed forces, he added.
The Red Sea, one of Egypt's main tourist destinations, attracts millions of visitors every year. The tourism sector, which is crucial for the northeast African country of 105 million inhabitants, employs around two million people and contributes more than 10% of its GDP.
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In addition to the four Belgians, one Finnish national and a number of Germans are among the missing, French news agency AFP reported, based on information from Finnish and German governmental sources.
Monday's accident is at least the third of its kind reported this year near Marsa Alam, according to international media. In early November, 30 people were rescued when a diving boat sank near the famous Deadalus Reef, and in June, around 20 French tourists were evacuated unharmed before their boat sank in a similar accident.
