Fears 16 missing including 2 Brits were ‘trapped in cabins as yacht sank in just 5 minutes after freak wave’ off Egypt

IT took the luxury Sea Story yacht just five minutes to sink with tourists left trapped inside their cabins, the Red Sea governor has revealed.

Two Brits are still feared to be among 16 people missing after a freak wave off the Egyptian coast reportedly caused the boat to flip onto its side before plunging below the water.

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The yacht left Porto Ghalib Port for a multi-day diving trip on November 24, with 45 people on board.

At around 5:30am local time, a crew member sent out a distress signal from the boat before it suddenly dropped off the radar and lost all contact.

So far 28 people have been rescued with search operations continuing in the desperate hunt for the remaining divers.

Governor of the Red Sea, Amr Hanafi, confirmed he has spoken with witnesses of the tragic capsizing who have all said a "large wave" caused it to sink within minutes.

He continued: "The initial cause of the accident, according to the accounts of foreigners and the Egyptian crew, was a large wave from the sea that hit the boat, causing it to capsize.

"The matter was sudden and fast, as it took about five or seven minutes, and some of the passengers were inside the cabins, which is the secret behind their inability to get out of the boat."

Many of those still feared missing are believed to be experienced divers, Hanafi added.

A professional diver who was out on the water when the yacht was attacked by the wave has revealed the horrifying five minute disaster.

They said: “I was on the surface when things started to go wrong. I felt the boat tilting sharply, and I tried to hold on to something stable, but the capsizing was very fast.

"I heard screams from inside the cabins, but many were unable to get out because the doors were closed and the place was filled with water."

Another tourist, believed to be a Brit, added: “It was pitch black and the water was all around us.

“I tried to swim up but the current was so strong I felt like I was suffocating.

"What saved me was my life jacket that kept me on the surface until rescue teams arrived.”

An Egyptian crew member described the wave as "abnormally large".

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The urgent hunt for the remaining missing people has seen the Navy called in to aid in rescue operations near Marsa Alam.

Alongside them the Armed Forces in search and rescue work and the General Command of the Armed Forces have been deployed.

The boat had been on the water despite authorities in Hurghada shutting down activities and the city's port on Sunday due to "bad weather conditions."

Egyptian weather forecasters predicted wave heights to reach 10-13 feet in the Red Sea before Sea Story departed.

The matter was sudden and fast, as it took about five or seven minutes, and some of the passengers were inside the cabins, which is the secret behind their inability to get out of the boat

Amr HanafiGovernor of the Red Sea

It was unclear how the tourist vessel was given permission to sail in such stormy conditions.

Support is being given to "a number of British nationals and their families", the UK Foreign Office said.

According to local media, four Germans, two Spaniards, two Belgians, two Americans, one Irishman, and a Finn were also on board.

The others on the trip were from China, Slovakia, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Finland and Egypt.

Eight survivors have been named so far.

They include Ahmed Ramzy, Mohamed Ibrahim, Ayman Foley, Ahmed Sayed Ali, Mohamed Mohamed Metwally, Ahmed Adel, Ali Shaaban and Mohamed Mustafa, report Zaaed News.

It is still unclear which nationalities they are from.

The Chinese embassy in Egypt declared two of its citizens were safe yesterday.

The number of missing was taken down from 17 to 16 by the governor after the number of crew said to be aboard was reduced.

No serious injuries have been reported so far.

Built in 2022, Sea Story is a 144-feet pleasure boat able to carry up to 32 passengers.

Trippers are thought to have paid £1,000 for a seven-night trip on the luxury yacht.

With 18 twin cabins, the vessel takes tourists on diving trips to explore reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea.

The Red Sea is a popular diving destination renowned for its coral reefs and marine life and is vital to Egypt’s tourism industry.

In June last year, three British tourists died and 12 were rescued after the scuba diving boat known as Hurricane caught fire off Marsa Alam.

Twelve other divers and 14 crew, including the captain, were rescued after abandoning the ship, which had set sail for the Elphinstone Reef diving spot.

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