A search for survivors is underway with the Egyptian navy involved, as ITV News’ Geraint Vincent reports
Two Brits are reportedly among those missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea off Egypt.
Twelve tourists and four Egyptians are still unaccounted for after the ship, named the Sea Story, sank off Marsa Alam city on Monday morning.
The Foreign Office said it is providing support to “a number of British nationals and their families”.
Major General Amr Hanafi, governor of the Red Sea region, said the yacht was carrying 44 people.
This included 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.
Twenty-eight people were saved by rescuers, with 16 people, including four Egyptians still missing, Major General Hanafi said on Monday evening.
A distress call was made from the yacht shortly before dawn on Monday.
The Governor said the initial cause of the accident was a large wave that caused the boat to capsize.
He added that the boat had no technical defects and that the correct licences had been obtained.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had previously warned of high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.
Armed forces are searching the area in coordination with the Maritime Rescue Center and the governorate’s operations room, Major General Hanafi said.
He confirmed that the rescued survivors are receiving medical care and are in “good health”.
The yacht was operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, which is based in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada.
According to its website, the Sea Story was built in 2022 and can hold 36 passengers.
The company said it has no information on the matter.
Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists embarking on diving holidays, as it is near large areas with coral reefs.
Three Britons died in June last year when the diving boat they were on burst into flames off Marsa Alam.
The fire was caused by a suspected electrical fault.
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