Three British tourists are missing after a boat burst into flames in the Egyptian Red Sea, reports have stated.
In horrifying footage, the ship can be seen engulfed in flames with large plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky off the coast of Marsa Alam.
Aside from the three missing UK nationals, twelve other Britons, 12 crew members and two guides who were involved have all been rescued uninjured, the boat’s operator, Tornado Marine Fleet said.
The Foreign Office is supporting the British nationals involved.
A 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.”
The boat left Port Ghalib on Tuesday and was due to return on Sunday, reports say.
A Tornado Marine Fleet spokesperson, the company who owns the boat, said: “Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire.
“We do have three missing British passengers and all others ... reached the nearest land safely.
“Now we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision.”
The Red Sea Governorate said: “The Secretary General pointed out that the crew and passengers were rescued by the boat named ‘Blue’ and returned to central Marsa Alam, and a search is still underway for three British passengers by the concerned authorities and other boats, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of readiness and follow-up is underway.”
