Egypt tourist boat sinks off Red Sea, 17 missing
Al Jazeera2 days
4 Dead, 7 Missing Day After Tourist Yacht Sinks off Red Sea
Above: Sea Story (L) docked in Marsa Alam, Egypt, on Nov. 20, 2024. Image copyright: Sebnem Coskun/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Five survivors have been rescued, and four bodies recovered a day after a tourist yacht carrying 44 passengers and crew members of multiple nationalities sank on Egypt's Red Sea coast on Monday.
Soon after the yacht capsized at around 5.30 am local time south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, 28 people were rescued, while a search operation was launched to find the remaining 16.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Sea Story was newly built, had no technical faults, was fully licensed, had passed all inspection checks for naval safety, and obtained all the necessary permits before the trip. Its shock capsizing highlights the challenges the tourism industry faces in balancing business operations with unpredictable conditions.
Narrative B
This unfortunate incident highlights the serious consequences of sailing in rough waters despite clear meteorological warnings. Authorities had predicted turbulence in the Mediterranean and Red Seas due to severe weather conditions. This tragedy could have been prevented if the yacht had been denied permission to sail during the storm or if the crew had paid attention to available guidance.