At least 16 tourists are missing after an Egyptian yacht carrying Americans sinks in high waves in the Red Sea.

Four Egyptians and a dozen foreign nationals are unaccounted for.

At least 16 tourists are missing after an Egyptian yacht carrying Americans sinks in high waves in the Red Sea.
At least 16 tourists are missing after an Egyptian yacht carrying Americans sinks in high waves in the Red Sea.

On Monday, an Egyptian yacht carrying international tourists sank in the Red Sea, resulting in the disappearance of at least 16 individuals.

Thirteen crew members and thirty-one tourists were on the Sea Story when it sank near Marsa Alam, a resort town in southeastern Egypt, during a multi-day diving trip.

On Monday at 5:30 a.m., two American tourists were reportedly on board the Egyptian media outlet Al-Dostor, but it is unclear if they are among the missing.

The Red Sea Governorate informed the Naval Base and the Armed Forces immediately, and search and rescue teams began operations using a helicopter and a marine unit moving from Bernice Harbor towards the rescue site.

Split image of boat and boats in harbor
More than a dozen people are missing after the Sea Story sank near Marsa Alam on Monday. (Getty Images)

"The Egyptian Control Center and Operations Room remain vigilant, coordinating and monitoring around the clock to ensure all necessary actions are taken and the situation is reassured."

The search continues, and the official death toll has not been released yet.

Officials in Egypt stated that 28 individuals were saved, with only minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises reported, and no one required hospitalization.

People standing on dock near sinking
Rescuers wait on the beach for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbor in Marsa Alam. More than a dozen people remain missing after a tourist boat carrying 45 people capsized in the Red Sea, Egyptian authorities said on Monday. (Stringer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The ship transported citizens of the U.S., Belgium, Spain, and Germany, as well as those from the United Kingdom, China, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland. Among them were 12 foreign nationals who were missing.

Officials suspect that a massive wave capsized the vessel, which sank within five to seven minutes.

Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi stated that some passengers were unable to escape because they were in their cabins.

Boats in harbor
A file photo dated November 20, 2024 shows an aerial view of a pier of Red Sea as yachts and boat dock in Marsa Alam, Egypt. (Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The incident is being investigated by authorities. No further details are available.

Reuters contributed to this report.

by Andrea Margolis

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