17 missing after tourist yacht sinks in high waves on Red Sea, Egyptian officials say

At least 17 people are missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas, Egyptian officials said on Monday.

The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.

Thirty-one tourists of various nationalities were on board Sea Story along with 14 crew on a multi-day diving trip when it went down near the coastal town of Marsa Alam, according to a separate statement by the governorate.

The UK Foreign Office said it was providing consular support to “a number of British nationals and their families” after the sinking. There were reports that British citizens were among the missing.

The governorate received a report just before dawn on Monday of a distress call made from the yacht, which had left Marsa Alam for a five-day journey.

It was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. But the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.