Three British passengers have died in Egypt after a diving boat burst into flames in the Red Sea, a tour operator has confirmed.
Scuba Travel said the three passengers were among 15 qualified divers who were staying on board the dive boat for a week when the fire broke out on Sunday. The boat called ‘Hurricane’ burst into flames off the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea.
A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet, which owns the boat, said on Sunday: “Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire.”
In a statement seen by Sky News, the tour operator said: “At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning.”
The boat left Port Ghalib on Tuesday and was due to return on Sunday, according to reports.
Following an initial examination of the vessel, Egyptian authorities said, “an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room sparked the blaze.”
A full investigation will be carried out by local authorities.
According to Scuba Travel, 12 of the divers were immediately evacuated to another craft when the fire broke.
Fourteen crew members also had to leave the vessel after trying to find the missing guests.
A spokesman for Scuba Travel told Sky: “It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident.
“Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.”
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.”
Fatal boat accidents are relatively uncommon in Egypt. In 2021 a boat capsized in a lake near Egypt‘s Mediterranean city of Alexandria, leaving at least five people dead, including three children.
In 1991, the Egyptian ferry, Salem Express – sailing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt – sank killing as many as 471 people, mostly Muslim pilgrims.
