Egyptian naval forces rescued five people on Tuesday and recovered four bodies, a day after a a tourist yacht with 44 passengers sank in the Red Sea the coastal city of Marsa Alam, officials said, after facing bad weather.
This brings the total number of survivors to 33, while seven are still missing.
The Sea Story, a ship used mainly for maritime activities, sent a distress signal after a large wave hit the ship, causing it to capsize, according to survivors.
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Some passengers were in cabins when the ship capsized within minutes, according to statements.
A rescue operation was ordered, which is still ongoing, and on Monday 28 people were rescued from the ship.
On Tuesday, the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said the five survivors were two Belgians, one Egyptian, one Swiss national and one Finnish national. He also said that four bodies have yet to be identified.
On board were 13 Egyptians, including crew members, and 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
The German Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that three Germans were missing, while three others had been rescued.
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Live-aboard ships usually depart from the port on multi-day excursions. The Sea Story left Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was due to dock in Hurghada five days later.
The boat had no technical problems, received all necessary permits before the voyage and was last inspected for maritime safety in March, officials said.
According to the website of boat operator Dive Pro Liveaboard, Sea Story was built in 2022 and can accommodate 36 passengers.
Egypt’s meteorological authority warned of turbulence and high waves on Saturday, advising against maritime activities on Sunday and Monday.
Marsa Alam is known for its pristine beaches, wide variety of marine life and regular sightings of sharks, especially the curious Oceanic White Tip, which attracts diving enthusiasts worldwide.
However, some dive sites are challenging, with strong currents and require advanced certification.
The Egyptian army is also involved in coordinating the rescue operation.
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