Yachts and boats are docked at the marina along Egypt's Red Sea coast on Nov. 25, 2024. Reuters-Yonhap

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SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - A tourist boat sank near Egypt's Red Sea coast, leaving 16 people, including 12 foreign nationals, missing, according to local authorities.

The vessel, carrying 44 individuals — 31 tourists of various nationalities and 13 crew members—capsized during a diving trip on Monday near Marsa Alam.

It is reported that 28 people were rescued with minor injuries, such as bruises, none requiring hospitalization. Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi suggested that a sudden large wave caused the boat to sink within minutes. Some passengers were trapped in their cabins, unable to escape.

Search efforts involving the Egyptian navy and army are ongoing. The foreign passengers included nationals from the U.S., Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland.

The 34-meter boat, owned by an Egyptian, had departed Port Ghalib on Sunday and was set to return to Hurghada Marina on Nov. 29.

Officials noted that a distress call was received early Monday morning. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of rough seas over the weekend, with waves reaching 10–13 feet in the Red Sea. It remains unclear why the boat was permitted to sail under such conditions.

The Red Sea, a key attraction for Egypt's tourism industry, is famed for its coral reefs and marine life. Accidents have occurred in the area, including a 2023 incident where three British tourists went missing after a motorboat fire near Marsa Alam.

Egypt also witnessed a tragic 2016 disaster when a boat carrying 600 migrants sank in the Mediterranean, killing at least 170.
AJP

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