16 people missing after Egyptian boat sinks in Red Sea

At least 16 people are missing after an Egyptian yacht carrying international tourists sank in the Red Sea on Monday. The yacht, named the Sea Story, was carrying 44 people, including 13 crew members and 31 tourists, for a multi-day diving trip near Marsa Alam, a resort town in southeastern Egypt.

Authorities were alerted to the incident at around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, with two American tourists reported to be on board. Search and rescue teams, including a helicopter and a marine unit, were immediately dispatched from Bernice Harbor to the rescue site.

The Red Sea Governorate explained in a Facebook post that the Naval Base and the Armed Forces were involved in the search and rescue operations. The search is ongoing, and the number of deaths has not been officially announced.

As of now, 28 people have been rescued, with minor injuries like scrapes and bruising reported. None of the rescued victims required hospitalization. The group of missing individuals includes 12 foreign nationals from countries such as the U.S., Belgium, Spain, and Germany, as well as citizens of the United Kingdom, China, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland.

While the cause of the sinking has not been determined, officials believe that a massive wave capsized the yacht, causing it to sink within five to seven minutes. Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi mentioned that some passengers were unable to escape as they were in their cabins at the time of the incident.

Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and no additional information is known at this time. The tragic event has raised concerns and highlighted the importance of safety measures for maritime activities in the region.

The search and rescue efforts continue as families and loved ones wait anxiously for updates on the missing individuals. Our thoughts are with those affected by this devastating incident, and we hope for a swift and successful resolution to the ongoing search operations.

This article was written by Andrea Margolis for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. For story tips and inquiries, please contact andrea.margolis@fox.com.