Polish citizens among missing passengers of capsized boat in Egypt

Polish MFA spokesman Paweł Wroński reported on Tuesday that the ship had gone down around 5:30 a.m. There were 44 people on board, including 13 Egyptian crew members and 31 passengers of various nationalities. Among them, two passengers held Polish citizenship.

The incident occurred on Monday morning. Efforts to locate the missing passengers were ongoing. The Polish embassy in Egypt has established contact with the families of the missing Polish citizens, Wroński said.

"The rescue operation involves not only rescue teams but also border guards, naval units, and patrol planes monitoring the sea. So far, 28 people have been rescued. These individuals are reportedly in relatively good condition," he stated.

Wroński clarified that the ship that sank near Marsa Alam capsized due to a large wave rather than a collision with a coral reef, as initially suspected.

"The vessel went under within 5-7 minutes. Based on accounts from those rescued, some passengers were still in their cabins when the ship started sinking. Others were saved by a nearby vessel," Wroński explained.

Wroński further noted that most of the passengers were experienced divers participating in a diving expedition. The boat that transported them had long been hired specifically for underwater exploration trips.

Rescue operations continued, as authorities strive to account for all missing individuals.

On Tuesday morning, rescue teams recovered three bodies from a tourist boat that capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast, while they continued searching for 13 missing people, Red Sea provincial governor Amr Hanafi told Reuters.

Sixteen passengers were believed to have been trapped inside, according to a Red Sea Governorate statement on Monday.

Twenty-eight survivors were rescued with minor injuries, none requiring hospitalisation. Survivors were being accommodated in a hotel in Marsa Alam, where authorities were working with embassies and consulates to provide assistance and documentation.

Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported. The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

The incident occurred during rough weather conditions. The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported wave heights of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

It was the second boat to sink in the area this year; in June another vessel suffered severe damage from strong waves, though no casualties were reported.

The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a major hub for Egypt's tourism industry, which plays a critical role in the country's economy.