Three tourists were declared missing but have now been confirmed dead after a fire broke out on a diving boat they were traveling on in the Egyptian Red Sea.
The tourist boat, carrying a total of 29 people, including 15 British tourists and 14 crew members, was sailing off the coast of Marsa Alam at the time of the incident, according to Ahram Online media.
Twelve of the British tourists were rescued. The remaining three didn’t survive.
The tour operator Scuba Travel and Tornado Marine Fleet, which operated the diving boat, reported that a fire broke out onboard at 8:30am local time during a diving briefing.The three people who lost their lives did not attend the briefing, as they had decided not to dive that day.
The fire reportedly started in the engine room. The 12 tourists were evacuated while the crew tried to rescue the three missing passengers. Eventually they were forced to leave the boat and the victims were found later.
The 12 rescued divers were given medical attention in the town of Marsa Shagra. Passports and personal belongings were left behind, having been destroyed in the fire.
The diving boat, named “Hurricane” had luxurious cabins, a dining room and living room and a chef onboard.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson released a statement on Sunday, June 11 assuring that they are in contact with local authorities and offering support to the affected British nationals.
This occurrence follows the recent closure of beaches in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada due to a shark attack that claimed the life of a Russian man.