Rescuers transport a survivor after the yacht sank off the coast of Marsa Alam. Egyptian Press Centre via AP
Rescuers transport a survivor after the yacht sank off the coast of Marsa Alam. Egyptian Press Centre via AP
Rescuers transport a survivor after the yacht sank off the coast of Marsa Alam. Egyptian Press Centre via AP
Rescuers transport a survivor after the yacht sank off the coast of Marsa Alam. Egyptian Press Centre via AP

Sea Story sinking: Four bodies and five more survivors found after boat tragedy off Egypt's Red Sea coast


Kamal Tabikha
  • English
  • Arabic

Four bodies were recovered on Tuesday from a tourist yacht that sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast, along with five more survivors who had spent over a day in the water, authorities said. The rescued people include a Swiss national, two Belgians and an Egyptian, according to a statement from the municipal government in Red Sea province.

A search operation was in its second day looking for seven people still missing. The Sea Story, carrying 44 passengers, capsized during a diving trip south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam early on Monday. Twenty-eight tourists were rescued from the water later that day and taken to hospital by helicopter, Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said.

On Tuesday, Mr Hanafi said four bodies had been pulled from the sunken boat. The vessel had taken to the water despite a warning of high waves on the Red Sea from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, which had advised against sailing on Sunday and Monday.

According to survivors, a “high sea wave” hit the vessel and caused it to capsize. Some passengers were inside their cabins “which is why they couldn’t get out of the boat”, the governor said. Nine survivors of foreign nationality were discharged from hospital on Tuesday, medical officials in Marsa Alam told The National.

Another 19 were still receiving treatment at the city’s One-Day Surgery Hospital and all were in a stable condition. They included Egyptians and foreign citizens.

The boat went under about 85km from shore. On board were 13 Egyptians and 31 people from Germany, Britain, the US, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.

In a statement to The National, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed two Swiss nationals had been on board. "The FDFA confirms that the Swiss citizen who had been missing since the boat accident in Marsa Alam, Egypt, was rescued today. A second Swiss citizen was rescued unharmed yesterday," it said.

The Sea Story sank off the coast of Egypt with 44 people on board. Photo: Red Sea Governorate
The Sea Story sank off the coast of Egypt with 44 people on board. Photo: Red Sea Governorate

Britain's Foreign Office said consular support was being provided to "a number of British nationals and their families". Two of its citizens remained missing, it added. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs also said it was "providing consular assistance” without giving further details.

The Egyptian navy, with the help of a nearby tourist boat named StarGate, managed to rescue 28 passengers from the sea on Monday, Mr Hanafi said on Facebook. He said there had been no technical defect with the Egyptian-owned boat, which is 34 metres long and 9.5 metres wide. It had passed a safety inspection in March and received a one-year certificate of seaworthiness with no problems noted.

The incident has renewed concerns about Egypt's mixed record on transport safety. Despite the dangers, the country is popular with foreign tourists, particularly diving enthusiasts, who are drawn to its scenic Red Sea resorts and beaches.

On November 6, Nouran, a 36-metre liveaboard sank at Egypt’s Daedalus Reef after catching fire, according to a statement from Red Sea Explorers, the owners of the yacht. All 24 passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire was not determined.

On October 23, the scuba diving vessel Seaduction struck coral and sank near Elba Reef in the Red Sea near the Egypt-Sudan border, carrying 18 French divers and a crew of 10. All evacuated on to lifeboats and were rescued after drifting at sea for eight hours.

The Seaduction was the third 'liveaboard' boat to sink in the Red Sea this year, after the Exocet did so near Marsa Alam in June and the Sea Legend, which sank in February after a cabin fire. Three British tourists died in the Sea Legend tragedy. There were no casualties in the Exocet sinking.

The five pillars of Islam
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'Shakuntala Devi'

Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra

Director: Anu Menon

Rating: Three out of five stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

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Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
City's slump

L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

GAC GS8 Specs

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About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

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Ashes 2019 schedule

August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston

August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's

August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley

September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford

September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

What is safeguarding?

“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Updated: November 30, 2024, 12:04 PM`