According to Egyptian officials and security sources, a motor boat caught fire off the coast of the Egyptian Red Sea, resulting in the disappearance of three British tourists while twelve others were successfully rescued. The survivors, along with twelve Egyptian crew members and guides, were brought to safety at the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra, approximately 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of Marsa Alam. The Red Sea State governor’s office and two security sources issued a statement confirming this information.
The statement further revealed that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which was named Hurricane. The incident occurred during a trip that had commenced on June 6 in an area just north of Marsa Alam. Social media images depicted the white motor yacht engulfed in flames at sea, emitting thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village, recounted that the boat was spotted approximately 9 kilometers away from the beach when the smoke became visible. A nearby vessel promptly rescued the individuals caught in the fire and brought them ashore.
The British Foreign Office assured that it was maintaining communication with local authorities regarding the incident and providing support to the affected British nationals.