At least 17 people are missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea early Monday, following warnings of rough seas from Egyptian authorities.
Rescue teams, coordinated by the Egyptian military, saved 28 people from the vessel near Marsa Alam, a coastal town popular with divers.
Many tourist have stopped or limited traveling in the Red Sea due to the dangers from ongoing regional conflict.
Several of the rescued individuals were airlifted for medical treatment, according to Amr Hanafy, governor of the Red Sea region.
Two Americans Reported Missing
The yacht, identified as Sea Story, embarked on a five-day voyage from Marsa Alam with 31 tourists of various nationalities and 14 crew members onboard.
The ship was set to return to Hurghada Marina on Nov. 29.
Egyptian media reported that those aboard included two Americans, four British nationals, four Germans, two Spaniards, two Belgians, and one Irishman.
The others on the trip were from China, Slovakia, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Finland and Egypt.
Why Did the Yacht Sink?
The distress call came shortly before dawn, though the cause of the sinking remains unclear.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had issued alerts on Saturday about turbulence and high waves, advising against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.
Authorities deployed rescue teams and a helicopter to aid the search.
The Egyptian military was coordinating rescue operations with the governorate.
The Sea Story, a four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht built in 2022, is operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, a company based in Hurghada.
The ship took tourists on diving trips to explore reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea.
According to The Associated Press, when they were contacted the person answering the phone on behalf of Dive Pro Liveaboard said they had "no information."
Tourism in the Red Sea
Tourism in the Red Sea has been hit by conflict in the region while Western holiday makers have shunned the Middle East.
Shipping in the Red Sea has been hard hit after a series of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
Major commercial shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have temporarily halted journeys through the Red Sea due to the attacks.
Cruise operator Carnival said in March that its cruises will not be sailing through the Red Sea region in 2024 and early 2025.
Royal Caribbean canceled two voyages to the Red Sea region in January, and Swiss Italian operator MSC Cruises canceled three trips due in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to Europe.
Last week, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning to vessels in the Gulf of Aden after a yacht reported being shadowed by up to 12 small craft while navigating waters near Yemen.
According to the yacht's captain, the suspicious boats followed the vessel's course for two hours, despite evasive maneuvers deployed to shake them off.
It remains unknown if the vessels that shadowed the yacht were linked to Houthi rebels or pirates.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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