Two Britons believed to be survivors of the sunken Egyptian vessel which capsized in the Red Sea have been named and pictured.
Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones are reported to have been two of 28 people rescued by Egyptian authorities on Monday after the Sea Story vessel capsized with 44 people onboard, according toThe Times.
Two other Britons are still unaccounted for, and are reported to be among the seven people still missing. Four bodies have been recovered from the boat and have not been officially identified.
A friend of Mr Sharratt and Ms Jones said he had seen the pair on TV. They have been sailing the world in their retirement, he added.
Earlier today, it was revealed that some survivors, who were stuck on the boat for more than 30 hours, stayed alive using 20cm air pockets on the boat.
Hussam al-Faramawy, the father of survivor and dive instructor Youssef al-Faramawy, told The Times that survivors had battled for their lives in “complete darkness”, while trapped in “cold water” for more than a day.
Mr al-Faramawy’s son was among the five people rescued on Tuesday, bringing the total number of people rescued to 33.
Key Points
- Two Britons believed to be survivors named and pictured
- Survivors ‘used tiny 20cm air pocket to stay alive'
- Update on search efforts from the Egyptian Military
- Survivors were ‘trapped inside cabins’, says rescue diver
- Probably not wave that caused capsize - oceanographer
Two Britons believed to be survivors named and pictured
15:09 , Alex CroftTwo Britons were among those rescued on the Sea Story tourist yacht on Monday, according to The Times.
Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones are believed to be survivors of the capsized yacht, having been rescued along with 26 others on Monday.
According to a friend of the pair, who said on Facebook he had spotted that they survived after “seeing them on TV”, Mr Sharratt and Ms Jones are seasoned sailors who have voyaged around the world during their retirement.
But two other Britons are among those who are not yet accounted for, with most reports suggesting that they are among the seven still missing, rather than the four dead who remain unidentified in the media.
Two Britons believed to be survivors are ‘very experienced sailors’
16:06 , Alex CroftA friend of the two Britons who are believed to be survivors of the Sea Story boat which capsized in the Red Sea has described them as “very experienced sailors”.
Tom Postin told The Times that they are “genuine honest people” who just “go around the world having fun”.
He added: “They’re very, very experienced sailors and they would know what was going on and thankfully they both survived but the other people wouldn’t know what hit them.
“As soon as I saw them come [on] the jetty I said, ‘Aw crikey, it’s Sally and Colin’. I’m so pleased they were OK.”
Survivors of sunken Red Sea yacht spent a day trapped in cabins under water, diver reveals
14:22 , Alex CroftA diver has revealed incredible details of the operation to rescue survivors in a tourist yacht that sank in the Red Sea, as the search for seven people who remain missing continued for its third day.
Khattab al-Faramawy, a professional licensed diver whose nephew was on board the Sea Story boat, recalled finding survivors “trapped inside the boat cabins” around 24 hours after the vessel had sunk.
The Sea Story sank in the early hours of Monday morning after sending a distress signal at 5:30am. On board the boat were 44 people, including 31 passengers – two of them British – and 13 crew members.
Read the full report:
Red Sea yacht survivors were trapped in cabins under water for a day
Is the Red Sea a dangerous part of the world for shipping?
13:49 , Alex CroftNot especially – except for Houthi activity – but there can be some intense thunderstorms.
The worst maritime disaster in the Red Sea occurred in 2006, when a ferry from Duba in Saudi Arabia to Safaga in Egypt sank after a fire on board and subsequent efforts to extinguish it. Around 1,000 passengers lost their lives, with bad weather thought to have contributed to the appallingly high death toll.
The Foreign Office warns: “Overcrowding and poor safety standards have caused accidents on Red Sea ferries and Nile cruises.”
In June 2023 three British tourists died in a fire aboard another dive boat, Hurricane, close to the spot Sea Story sank.
Watch: Rescuers help Egyptian yacht survivors after Sea Story boat sinks off Red Sea coast
13:25 , Lucy LeesonWatch as rescuers help Egyptian yacht survivors after the Sea Story boat sank off the Red Sea coast.
Four Britons are among dozens of people feared missing after a tourist yacht was “hit by a wave” and sank off the coast of Egypt on Monday (25 November).
At least 17 people are feared missing despite a massive rescue operation saving 28 people from the imperiled vessel, according to the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafi.
The boat sank off the south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 31 tourists of various nationalities on board along with 14 crew members.
A surviving crew member said the boat was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.
Around 80 hours in, the search continues for seven missing people
13:02 , Alex CroftAround 80 hours since the Sea Story vessel capsized in the Red Sea, the search for seven people missing on the tourist yacht continues.
A spokesperson for the Egyptian military said it “continues its efforts” to search for the missing people after a total of 33 people were rescued. Some reports say the missing seven include two British people.
The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 foreign nationals from the UK, the US, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland, when it was struck by a large wave.
The governor said he visited the site where the vessel sank and said those rescued were airlifted to receive medical treatment.
Those who survived suffered only bruises and abrasions and were taken to a hotel in Marsa Alam in good condition.
Capsized vessel had enough escape rafts for 50 people
12:40 , Alex CroftThe capsized Sea Story vessel had enough “safety rafts” for everyone on board the boat, its specifications show.
On the Dive Pro Liveaboard website, the company which owns and operates the boat, Sea Story is listed with “two safety rafts for 25 persons each”. There were 44 people on board the boat.
But according to Red Sea regional governor Amr Hanafi, some people were stuck in their cabins when a huge wave struck the boat and it began to capsize.
The website says that each cabin had life jackets inside.
The four-deck boat has a lounge, and a bar, the specifications add.
What was this vessel doing and what do we know about the boat?
12:17 , Simon Calder, Travel CorrespondentSea Story was a liveaboard diving boat, based near the Red Sea port of Marsa Alam. She is one of dozens of similar vessels that take divers out to some of the most exciting underwater locations on the planet – with reefs, wrecks and colourful fish.
For a week’s voyage with the dive operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard, you would pay €1,220 (just over £1,000) and enjoy three or four dives per day.
Sea Story was kitted out with 16 double cabins, so room for 32 divers, and a usual crew of 12 – eight seafarers and four kitchen staff. She was very modern, built in 2022. The operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard, says it is “locally owned and operating from the heart of Hurghada” – a Red Sea resort popular with British travellers.
The Red Sea governorate said the boat had passed a safety inspection in March 2024.
All you need to know about sunken yacht
11:55 , Alex CroftHere’s all you need to know about the boat which capsized in the Red Sea on Monday:
- Sea Story, an Egyptian-owned boat, had set sail from Porto Ghalib on a five-day diving trip, carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew.
- This was despite warnings by the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday, advising against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.
- At 5:30am on Monday, the ship sent out a distress signal, sparking a major rescue effort led by an Egyptian navy warship El Fateh and military aircraft.
- Survivors report that the boat was hit by a huge wave. Wave heights of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots were reported in the area on Sunday by the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority.
- The boat capsized within five to seven minutes. Some people were reportedly in their cabins at the time the wave hit. It sank off the popular tourist destination of Marsa Alam.
- By the end of Monday, 28 people had been rescued and 16 people remained missing, including two Brits. Tourists on the boat included nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
- A technical defect on the boat was ruled out by the Red Sea region’s governor, Amr Hanafi, who said all the necessary safety permits had been obtained.
- Embassies from around the world confirmed on Monday that they were offering consular assistance following the incident.
- On Tuesday, four bodies were recovered and five more people were rescued, bringing the total of survivors to 33.
- On Wednesday, none of the mising seven people were reported to have been found.
- As of Thursday morning, the search goes on.
ICYMI: Wednesday’s update from the Egyptian Military
11:31 , Alex CroftIn a post on Facebook, the Egyptian military spokesman said: “Following the assignment of the General Command of the Armed Forces of the Navy to intensify efforts in search and rescue operations for survivors and missing people in the accident of the tourist boat sinking (SE-story), the Navy continued its efforts in search work in the area of the accident south of the city of Morsa Alam in the Red Sea province.
“Efforts resulted in finding 9 people of different nationalities, among them, 5 are alive and 4 are dead.
“Medical ambulances were provided to the survivors in cooperation with the executive authorities of the Red Sea Governorate, and the Navy continues its efforts to find the remains of the missing persons.”
Watch: Egypt tourist yacht survivor's first words as five more rescued after boat sinks
11:08 , Alex CroftPictured: Survivors are tended to by Egyptian military and medics
10:46 , Alex Croft
Timescale of the Red Sea boat disaster and response effort
10:26 , Alex CroftOn Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecast high seas on the Red Sea, with 40mph winds and 12-foot waves, and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday, Sea Story left Port Ghalib, just north of the resort of Marsa Alam, on a routine five-day voyage. On board: 13 crew and 31 divers.
Early on Monday morning the vessel capsized after being struck by a large wave, according to the accounts of survivors. The crew managed to send out a distress call at around 5:30am, and 28 of the people on board were rescued that day.
Search efforts continued into the evening on Monday, before they resumed on Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, Egyptian authorities recovered four bodies and rescued five people, bringing the total up to 33.
On Wednesday, none of the seven who remained missing were reported to be found. Going into Thursday, the fourth day of the search effort, still no updates have been provided.
Pictured: Survivor is brought to safety
10:03 , Alex Croft
Survivors were in ‘complete darkness’ for 30 hours
09:34 , Alex CroftThe survivors who spent a day battling for their lives underwater remained in “complete darkness” for around 30 hours as they awaited their rescue, it has been revealed.
Speaking to The Times, Hussam al-Faramawy - whose diving instructor son was stuck on the boat - said they were sharing an air pocket just 20cm in size. They remained “in this situation in complete darkness and cold water for about 30 hours”, before being rescued at around 11am on Tuesday.
Mr al-Faramawy’s son was one of those rescued, and his brother, Khattab al-Faramawy, was involved in the rescue efforts.
Mapped: Where did the Sea Story sink?
09:02 , Jabed Ahmed
Survivors ‘used tiny 20cm air pocket to stay alive'
08:35 , Alex CroftThe father of Youssef al-Faramawy, one of the divers on the Sea Story yacht who was rescued by his own uncle, has revealed further details about how people survived for an entire day in the sunken boat.
Tiny air pockets in the corner of the room allowed them to survive while trapped in the cabins. Only around 20cm of the inside of the cabins were left unflooded, Hussam al-Faramawy told The Times.
Youssef “sent out a distress signal” along with Captain Alaa Hussein, Mr al-Faramawy said.
He then went to help a man and woman who were “trapped in a cabin” but the “water flooded the boat”.
They survived because “about 20cm inside the cabin were still not flooded, which helped them breathe and stay alive until rescue teams arrived”, he added.
Full report: Survivors of sunken Red Sea yacht spent a day trapped in cabins underwater, diver reveals
08:13 , Jabed AhmedRead the full report from my colleague Alex Croft below:
Red Sea yacht survivors trapped in cabins underwater for a day
Two Britons rescued, two still missing
07:50 , Alex CroftNews has emerged that two British people were among those rescued from the Sea Story yacht on Monday.
A hospital source told AFP news agency that six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries on Monday.
Among the tourists were “two Germans, two Britons, a Spaniard and a Swiss”, the hospital administrator told the agency, requesting anonymity.
Two Britons are still unaccounted for. Some reports have suggested they are among the seven people still missing, but identities of the four bodies recovered on Tuesday have not been confirmed.
What caused the yacht to sink?
07:00 , Alex CroftIt was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck motor yacht to sink after it departed from the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam on Monday.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about rough weather and large waves, advising against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday on the Red Sea.
A surviving crew member also said the boat was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.
Other survivors said a “high sea wave” hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in “about five or seven minutes”, according to the governor of the Red Sea region Amr Hanafi.
But an oceaonographer has cast doubt on whether this is what caused the vessel to sink, suggesting the wind conditions would not have been severe enough to produce a wave capable of capsizing a yacht.
Speaking to Sky News, Simon Boxall called for an investigation into the incident.
Diver rescued his nephew from sunken yacht
06:00 , Alex CroftKhattab al-Faramawy, the diver who revealed that survivors were pulled from their cabins where they had been trapped after the Sea Story vessel sunk, has shared more details of the rescue effort.
His 23-year-old nephew Youssef, a diving instructor, was among those that he rescued on Tuesday.
Youssef’s father, Hussam, broke down in tears after discovering his son was alive, and only told his son’s mother what was happening “after I realised that [Youssef] survived”.
“He was trying to save the passengers on board but got locked in one of the cabins,” Mr al-Faramawy (Hussam) told the BBC.
Youssef is being treated in a local hospital, the broadcaster reports.
Video: Egypt tourist yacht survivor’s first words as five more rescued after boat sinks
05:57 , Namita Singh
Egypt tourist yacht survivor’s first words as five more rescued after boat sinks
Survivors were ‘trapped inside cabins’, says rescue diver
05:00 , Alex CroftA diver who rescued survivors of the Sea Story yacht has revealed that some were “trapped inside the boat cabins” before being rescued.
The yacht is largely submerged, with less than half a metre of the boat still above water, Khattab al-Faramawy told the BBC.
“We dived 12m (40ft) under water - the survivors were trapped inside the boat cabins,” he said, adding that it was a “complicated mission” due to darkness.
“My heart goes out to the families of the dead, and I hope they will find all the missing passengers alive,” he added.
Reason for capsize was ‘probably not a wave’, says oceanographer
04:00 , Alex CroftAn oceanographer has cast doubt on the claim that a huge wage caused the Sea Story ship to sink, saying the wind conditions weren’t strong enough.
“We are getting the same story coming out, mainly from the governor of the region, saying a ‘huge wave’ hit the ship,” Simon Boxall told Sky News on Wednesday morning.
“There’s no evidence of that. The Egyptian Met Office did issue a storm warning, but that was for the Red Sea and the Mediterranean generally.”
The wind conditions for the region around Marsa Alarm “weren’t that strong” and “wouldn’t create these alleged three- to four-metre waves”, he added.
“I still feel that this is probably not a wave that caused the capsize. We need to see an investigation coming out of this. It’s still early days, but the information coming out from the Egyptian authorities is still very sparse.
“We don’t know where the vessel is, we don’t know, is it sunk? What depth of water is it in? The information is being filtered by the Egyptian authorities, there’s been no direct statements from people from the boat itself, it’s all been through the authorities.”
Pictured: How the rescue unfolded
03:00 , Alex Croft
What is the timescale of the Red Sea boat disaster?
02:05 , Alex CroftOn Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecast high seas on the Red Sea, with 40mph winds and 12-foot waves, and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday, Sea Story left Port Ghalib, just north of the resort of Marsa Alam, on a routine five-day voyage. On board: 13 crew and 31 divers.
Early on Monday morning the vessel capsized after being struck by a large wave, according to the accounts of survivors. The crew managed to send out a distress call at around 5:30am, and 28 of the people on board were rescued that day.
Search efforts continued into the evening on Monday, before they resumed on Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, Egyptian authorities recovered four bodies and rescued five people, bringing the total up to 33.
Going into the third day of the search on Wednesday, seven people remained missing.
Watch: Red Sea yacht survivor speaks for first time after rescue
01:14 , Alex CroftA survivor of the Egypt tourist yacht that sank in the Red Sea off Egypt on Monday (26 November) thanked his rescuers in an emotional exchange on Tuesday.
The Belgian tourist told officials “It’s very nice to be back” as five people were rescued alive, bringing the total number of survivors to 33.
“I really appreciate [the rescue efforts of the Egyptian military],” he added, before thanking them for his welcome onboard and the warm shower he was given after he had been “shaking with cold”.
Egypt tourist yacht survivor’s first words as five more rescued after boat sinks
Poland and Germany say their nationals missing
00:22 , Alex CroftThe Polish foreign ministry said on Tuesday that two Polish nationals, a man and a woman, are still missing in the Egypt boat tragedy.
Addressing reporters, spokesperson Paweł Wroński said the families of those missing have been notified.
Meanwhile, the German foreign ministry said on Tuesday that three Germans remain missing while three others have been rescued.
Update from the Egyptian Military
Wednesday 27 November 2024 23:40 , Jabed AhmedIn a post on Facebook, the Egyptian military spokesman said: “Following the assignment of the General Command of the Armed Forces of the Navy to intensify efforts in search and rescue operations for survivors and missing people in the accident of the tourist boat sinking (SE-story), the Navy continued its efforts in search work in the area of the accident south of the city of Morsa Alam in the Red Sea province.
“Efforts resulted in finding 9 people of different nationalities, among them, 5 are alive and 4 are dead.
“Medical ambulances were provided to the survivors in cooperation with the executive authorities of the Red Sea Governorate, and the Navy continues its efforts to find the remains of the missing persons.”
In pictures: Survivors brought to safety
Wednesday 27 November 2024 23:34 , Alex Croft
Capsized vessel had enough escape rafts for 50 people
Wednesday 27 November 2024 22:47 , Alex CroftThe capsized Sea Story vessel had enough “safety rafts” for everyone on board the boat, its specifications show.
On the Dive Pro Liveaboard website, the company which owns and operates the boat, Sea Story is listed with “two safety rafts for 25 persons each”. There were 44 people on board the boat.
But according to Red Sea regional governor Amr Hanafi, some people were stuck in their cabins when a huge wave struck the boat and it began to capsize.
The website says that each cabin had life jackets inside.
The four-deck boat has 18 twin cabins, a lounge, and a bar. It is 44 meters long and 9 meters wide, the specifications add.
Egypt tourist yacht survivors gather after boat sinks in Red Sea
Wednesday 27 November 2024 21:56 , Alex CroftIs the Red Sea a dangerous part of the world for shipping?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 21:08 , Alex CroftNot especially – except for Houthi activity – but there can be some intense thunderstorms.
The worst maritime disaster in the Red Sea occurred in 2006, when a ferry from Duba in Saudi Arabia to Safaga in Egypt sank after a fire on board and subsequent efforts to extinguish it. Around 1,000 passengers lost their lives, with bad weather thought to have contributed to the appallingly high death toll.
The Foreign Office warns: “Overcrowding and poor safety standards have caused accidents on Red Sea ferries and Nile cruises.”
In June 2023 three British tourists died in a fire aboard another dive boat, Hurricane, close to the spot Sea Story sank.
What is the best advice for someone considering a diving holiday in Egypt?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 20:18 , Simon Calder, Travel CorrespondentEgypt has a much higher risk level than the UK, so the whole journey should be considered. The Foreign Office says: “[Road accidents are common because of poor road conditions, dangerous driving and poor traffic law enforcement.
“Serious bus crashes in recent years have caused many deaths, including tourists.
“There have also been fatal train collisions and derailments.”
The best protection is afforded by booking a proper package (flights, accommodation and activities) through a UK operator, who do all they can to ensure it is a safe experience. But ultimately safety standards are not up to British standards.
What was this vessel doing and what do we know about the boat?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 19:28 , Alex CroftSea Story was a liveaboard diving boat, based near the Red Sea port of Marsa Alam. She is one of dozens of similar vessels that take divers out to some of the most exciting underwater locations on the planet – with reefs, wrecks and colourful fish.
For a week’s voyage with the dive operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard, you would pay €1,220 (just over £1,000) and enjoy three or four dives per day.
Sea Story was kitted out with 16 double cabins, so room for 32 divers, and a usual crew of 12 – eight seafarers and four kitchen staff. She was very modern, built in 2022. The operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard, says it is “locally owned and operating from the heart of Hurghada” – a Red Sea resort popular with British travellers.
The Red Sea governorate said the boat had passed a safety inspection in March 2024.
Pictured: Sea Story vessel
Wednesday 27 November 2024 18:40 , Alex CroftThe 144-foot two-engine Sea Story vessel was built in 2022 and is registered in Safaga, Egypt, according to the boat’s owner.
Owned by tourist company Dive pro Liveaboard, the boat has space for 36 passengers and 12 crew members including a captain, cooks, waiters and sailors.
At the time it sank, it was carrying 44 people. This included 31 tourists and 13 crew members, according to the Red Sea governornate.
It carried safety jackets in each cabin and two 25-person safety rafts, according to Dive pro Liveaboard’s website.
Chinese and Polish nationals declared safe
Wednesday 27 November 2024 17:55 , Alex CroftThe Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were “in good health” after being “rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea”, Chinese state media reported.
Pawel Wronski, the Polish foreign ministry spokesman, said authorities “have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship”.
“That’s all we know about them. That’s all we can say for now,” he said. The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed one of its nationals is missing.
All you need to know
Wednesday 27 November 2024 17:13 , Alex CroftEverything we know so far
Here’s all you need to know about the boat which capsized in the Red Sea on Monday:
- Sea Story, an Egyptian-owned boat, had set sail from Porto Ghalib on a five-day diving trip, carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew.
- This was despite warnings by the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday, advising against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.
- At 5:30am on Monday, the ship sent out a distress signal, sparking a major rescue effort led by an Egyptian navy warship El Fateh and military aircraft.
- Survivors report that the boat was hit by a huge wave. Wave heights of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots were reported in the area on Sunday by the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority.
- The boat capsized within five to seven minutes. Some people were reportedly in their cabins at the time the wave hit. It sank off the popular tourist destination of Marsa Alam.
- By the end of Monday, 28 people had been rescued and 16 people remained missing, including two Brits. Tourists on the boat included nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
- A technical defect on the boat was ruled out by the Red Sea region’s governor, Amr Hanafi, who said all the necessary safety permits had been obtained.
- Embassies from around the world confirmed on Monday that they were offering consular assistance following the incident.
- On Tuesday, four bodies were recovered and five more people were rescued, bringing the total of survivors to 33.
- As of Wednesday afternoon, the search for seven remaining missing people goes on.
Full report: Survivors of sunken Red Sea yacht spent a day trapped in cabins underwater, diver reveals
Wednesday 27 November 2024 17:00 , Jabed AhmedRed Sea yacht survivors trapped in cabins underwater for a day
ICYMI: Reason for capsize was ‘probably not a wave’, says expert
Wednesday 27 November 2024 16:34 , Alex CroftAn oceanographer has cast doubt on the claim that a huge wage caused the Sea Story ship to sink, saying the wind conditions weren’t strong enough.
“We are getting the same story coming out, mainly from the governor of the region, saying a ‘huge wave’ hit the ship,” he told Sky News.
“There’s no evidence of that. The Egyptian Met Office did issue a storm warning, but that was for the Red Sea and the Mediterranean generally.”
The wind conditions for the region around Marsa Alarm “weren’t that strong” and “wouldn’t create these alleged three- to four-metre waves”, he added.
“I still feel that this is probably not a wave that caused the capsize. We need to see an investigation coming out of this. It’s still early days, but the information coming out from the Egyptian authorities is still very sparse.
“We don’t know where the vessel is, we don’t know, is it sunk? What depth of water is it in? The information is being filtered by the Egyptian authorities, there’s been no direct statements from people from the boat itself, it’s all been through the authorities.”
Watch: Red Sea yacht survivor speaks for first time after rescue
Wednesday 27 November 2024 16:06 , Alex CroftA survivor of the Egypt tourist yacht that sank in the Red Sea off Egypt on Monday (26 November) thanked his rescuers in an emotional exchange on Tuesday.
The Belgian tourist told officials “It’s very nice to be back” as five people were rescued alive, bringing the total number of survivors to 33.
Two British passengers are stiull unaccounted for as the search enters a critical third day. It is unconfirmed whether they are among the four bodies which have been recovered from the sunken boat.
German and Polish nationals are believed to make up some of those who are missing.
Mapped: Where did the yacht sink?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 15:45 , Alex CroftIrish foreign minister says citizen onboard yacht is ‘OK’ - reports
Wednesday 27 November 2024 15:25 , Alex CroftAn Irish citizen who was on board a tourist yacht which sank in the Red Sea off Egypt on Monday is safe, Irish media cited foreign minister Micheál Martin as saying.
“My understanding is that Irish citizen is OK and receiving consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Mr Martin told reporters in Dublin on Tuesday morning, according to RTE.
Boat tragedy echoes similar incident in June 2023
Wednesday 27 November 2024 15:05 , Alex CroftThe sinking of a diving boat in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt has shocked the region and many across the world.
Three bodies have now been recovered, with 13 people still lost at sea as rescue efforts continue.
It is not the first such incident on a diving boat in the Red Sea. in June 2023, three British tourists died after a diving boat burst into flames.
They were part of a group of 15 qualified divers. The remaining 12 divers and 13 crew members evacuated the vessel.
Here is our report from last June:
Three British tourists confirmed dead after diving boat fire in Egypt
UK Foreign Office reiterates previous statement
Wednesday 27 November 2024 14:46 , Alex CroftThe UK’s Foreign Office says it is providing support to a “number of British nationals and their families” following an incident in Egypt.
After The Independent asked if there was any updated information on the status of two missing British nationals who are still unaccounted for, the FCDO reiterated its statement from yesterday with no new information.
The 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.”
Some reports have suggested the two Britons are among the seven people who remain missing. But the identities of the four bodies recovered by rescuers have not yet been confirmed, meaning it cannot yet be ruled out that the Britons are included.
Diver rescued his nephew from sunken yacht
Wednesday 27 November 2024 14:16 , Alex CroftKhattab al-Faramawy, the diver who revealed that survivors were pulled from their cabins where they had been trapped after the Sea Story vessel sunk, has shared more details of the rescue effort.
His 23-year-old nephew Youssef, a diving instructor, was among those that he rescued on Tuesday.
Youssef’s father, Hussam, broke down in tears after discovering his son was alive, and only told his son’s mother what was happening “after I realised that [Youssef] survived”.
"He was trying to save the passengers on board but got locked in one of the cabins,” Mr al-Faramawy (Hussam) told the BBC.
Youssef is being treated in a local hospital, the broadcaster reports.
Survivors were ‘trapped inside cabins’, says rescue diver
Wednesday 27 November 2024 13:47 , Alex CroftA diver who rescued survivors of the Sea Story yacht has revealed that some were “trapped inside the boat cabins” before being rescued.
The yacht is largely submerged, with less than half a metre of the boat still above water, Khattab al-Faramawy told the BBC.
“We dived 12m (40ft) under water - the survivors were trapped inside the boat cabins,” he said, adding that it was a “complicated mission” due to darkness.
“My heart goes out to the families of the dead, and I hope they will find all the missing passengers alive,” he added.
Watch: Rescuers help survivors of boat sunk off Red Sea coast as four Britons feared missing
Wednesday 27 November 2024 13:20 , Alex CroftWatch as rescuers help Egyptian yacht survivors after the Sea Story boat sank off the Red Sea coast.
Four Britons are among dozens of people feared missing after a tourist yacht sank off the coast of Egypt on Monday (25 November).
The boat sank off the south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 31 tourists of various nationalities on board along with 14 crew members.
A surviving crew member said the boat was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.
Capsized vessel had enough escape rafts for 50 people
Wednesday 27 November 2024 12:57 , Alex CroftThe capsized Sea Story vessel had enough “safety rafts” for everyone on board the boat, its specifications show.
On the Dive Pro Liveaboard website, the company which owns and operates the boat, Sea Story is listed with “two safety rafts for 25 persons each”. There were 44 people on board the boat, but it is unclear whether the rafts were used.
But according to Red Sea regional governor Amr Hanafi, some people were stuck in their cabins when a huge wave struck the boat and it began to capsize.
The website says that each cabin had life jackets inside.
The four-deck boat has 18 twin cabins, a lounge, and a bar. It is 44 meters long and 9 meters wide, the specifications add.
Around 56 hours in, the search continues for seven missing people
Wednesday 27 November 2024 12:33 , Alex CroftAround 56 hours since the Sea Story vessel capsized in the Red Sea, the search for seven people missing on the tourist yacht continues.
The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers were still searching for the missing people after a total of 33 people were rescued.
The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 foreign nationals from the UK, the US, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland, when it was struck by a large wave.
The governor said he visited the site where the vessel sank and said those rescued were airlifted to receive medical treatment.
Those who survived suffered only bruises and abrasions and were taken to a hotel in Marsa Alam in good condition.
What caused the yacht to sink?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 12:10 , Alex CroftIt was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck motor yacht to sink after it departed from the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam on Monday.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about rough weather and large waves, advising against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday on the Red Sea.
A surviving crew member also said the boat was “hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side”.
Other survivors said a “high sea wave” hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in “about five or seven minutes”, according to the governor of the Red Sea region Amr Hanafi.
But an oceaonographer has cast doubt on whether this is what caused the vessel to sink, suggesting the wind conditions would not have been severe enough to produce a wave capable of capsizing a yacht.
Speaking to Sky News, Simon Boxall called for an investigation into the incident.
Watch: Egypt tourist yacht survivors gather after boat sinks
Wednesday 27 November 2024 11:46 , Alex CroftPassengers who survived after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea off Egypt gathered at a coffee shop after they were rescued on Monday, 25 November.
Three bodies have been recovered from the vessel, Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi told Reuters on Tuesday.
Two Britons were among the 16 people initially reported missing after a massive rescue operation saved 28 people from the imperilled vessel which was hit by a “huge wave” and sank on Monday.
The identities of the people whose bodies have been recovered have not been confirmed.
What is the timescale of the Red Sea boat disaster?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 11:21 , Alex CroftOn Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecast high seas on the Red Sea, with 40mph winds and 12-foot waves, and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday, Sea Story left Port Ghalib, just north of the resort of Marsa Alam, on a routine five-day voyage. On board: 13 crew and 31 divers.
Early on Monday morning the vessel capsized after being struck by a large wave, according to the accounts of survivors. The crew managed to send out a distress call at around 5:30am, and 28 of the people on board were rescued that day.
Search efforts continued into the evening on Monday, before they resumed on Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, Egyptian authorities recovered four bodies and rescued five people, bringing the total up to 33.
Going into the third day, seven people remain missing and there has not yet been any update.
Pictured: How the rescue unfolded
Wednesday 27 November 2024 10:54 , Alex Croft
Egypt tourist boat: Everything we know about the incident in the Red Sea
Wednesday 27 November 2024 10:22 , Alex CroftTwo Britons are among the missing after a dive boat was hit by a “huge wave” and capsized off the Red Sea coast of Egypt on Monday 25 November.
In a rescue operation, 28 people were saved from the Sea Story before she sank, according to the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafi.
These are the key questions and answers.
The Independent’s Travel Correspondent Simon Calder reports:
Egypt tourist boat: Everything we know about the incident in the Red Sea
Is the Red Sea a dangerous part of the world for shipping?
Wednesday 27 November 2024 10:00 , Alex CroftNot especially – except for military activity by the Yemeni Houthi rebels in the past year – but there can be some intense thunderstorms.
The worst maritime disaster in the Red Sea occurred in 2006, when a ferry from Duba in Saudi Arabia to Safaga in Egypt sank after a fire on board and subsequent efforts to extinguish it. Around 1,000 passengers lost their lives, with bad weather thought to have contributed to the appallingly high death toll.
The Foreign Office warns: “Overcrowding and poor safety standards have caused accidents on Red Sea ferries and Nile cruises.”
In June 2023 three British tourists died in a fire aboard another dive boat, Hurricane, close to where the Sea Story sank.
Five rescued in Egypt 24 hours after Red Sea boat disaster - but two Britons unaccounted for
Wednesday 27 November 2024 09:36 , Alex CroftFour bodies were recovered and five survivors rescued from the water 24 hours after a yacht sank in the Red Sea when it got caught in rough weather.
The number of survivors now stands at 33 – including 28 who were rescued on Monday – with seven people still missing amid a major search operation led by Egyptian naval forces.
Two Brits among the 16 people originally missing on Monday have not yet been accounted for.
Sea Story, a live-aboard boat which was carrying 44 people on a five-day diving trip, sent a distress signal after a large wave crashed into the boat and caused it to capsize, according to survivors’ accounts of what happened.
Read yesterday’s full report:
Five rescued in Egypt 24 hours after Red Sea boat sinking but 2 Brits still missing
Reason for capsize was ‘probably not a wave’, says oceanographer
Wednesday 27 November 2024 09:15 , Alex CroftAn oceanographer has cast doubt on the claim that a huge wage caused the Sea Story ship to sink, saying the wind conditions weren’t strong enough.
“We are getting the same story coming out, mainly from the governor of the region, saying a ‘huge wave’ hit the ship,” he told Sky News.
“There’s no evidence of that. The Egyptian Met Office did issue a storm warning, but that was for the Red Sea and the Mediterranean generally.”
The wind conditions for the region around Marsa Alarm “weren’t that strong” and “wouldn’t create these alleged three- to four-metre waves”, he added.
“I still feel that this is probably not a wave that caused the capsize. We need to see an investigation coming out of this. It’s still early days, but the information coming out from the Egyptian authorities is still very sparse.
“We don’t know where the vessel is, we don’t know, is it sunk? What depth of water is it in? The information is being filtered by the Egyptian authorities, there’s been no direct statements from people from the boat itself, it’s all been through the authorities.”
Everything we know so far
Wednesday 27 November 2024 08:53 , Alex CroftHere’s all you need to know about the boat which capsized in the Red Sea on Monday:
- Sea Story, an Egyptian-owned boat, had set sail from Porto Ghalib on a five-day diving trip, carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew.
- This was despite warnings by the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday, advising against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.
- At 5:30am on Monday, the ship sent out a distress signal, sparking a major rescue effort led by an Egyptian navy warship El Fateh and military aircraft.
- Survivors report that the boat was hit by a huge wave. Wave heights of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots were reported in the area on Sunday by the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority.
- The boat capsized within five to seven minutes. Some people were reportedly in their cabins at the time the wave hit. It sank off the popular tourist destination of Marsa Alam.
- By the end of Monday, 28 people had been rescued and 16 people remained missing, including two Brits. Tourists on the boat included nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
- A technical defect on the boat was ruled out by the Red Sea region’s governor, Amr Hanafi, who said all the necessary safety permits had been obtained.
- Embassies from around the world confirmed on Monday that they were offering consular assistance following the incident.
- On Tuesday, four bodies were recovered and five more people were rescued, bringing the total of survivors to 33.
- As of Wednesday morning, the search for seven remaining missing people goes on.
Sun rises on a third day of major search
Wednesday 27 November 2024 08:29 , Alex CroftSeven people are still missing out at sea after the Sea Story vessel capsized on Monday.
The sun has now risen on the third day of the major search, led by Egyptian naval forces, in which 33 people have been rescued and four bodies have been recovered.
The picture below was taken from the beach where survivors of the boat were brought to safety on Monday.
