Several people remain missing after a large wave hit the Sea Story vessel on Monday, causing the boat to capsize “in about five to seven minutes,” the governor of Egypt’s Red Sea region said.
Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said the luxury vessel Sea Story took only five minutes to sink with the tourists inside. There were 31 tourists of different nationalities on board, as well as 14 crew members.
Hanafi noted that the initial cause of the accident, according to the foreigners and the Egyptian crew, was a large wave from the sea that hit the vessel. The governor added that the accident happened suddenly and quickly – it took about five or seven minutes – and some passengers who were inside the cabins did not have time to get out.
Hanafi said many of those still missing were believed to be experienced divers. The governor said three tourists had been rescued in the Ghadir area of Wai al-Jemal.
A search operation involving the Egyptian Navy is ongoing and a helicopter has been sent to scour the area. It is reported that weather conditions as well as the vast area have made the search difficult.
The yacht Sea Story sank in the early morning of November 25 in the Red Sea off the coast of Egyptian Marsa Alam.
