There was at least one Irish citizen on the yacht which sunk off the coast of Egypt this morning as a rescue operation continued to search for 17 missing people.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to the family members of the Irish citizen(s) on board, but did not confirm hte number or whether they are still missing or safe.
Four British tourists are also feared to be among those missing.
The tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas, Egyptian officials have confirmed.
The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.
Hanafy said 31 tourists of various nationalities were on board along with 14 crew.
Yachts and boats are docked in the marina at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada after a tourist boat sank off Red Sea coast (REUTERS/Stringer)
The governorate received a report shortly before dawn on Monday of a distress call made from the yacht, which had left Marsa Alam for a five-day journey.
It was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. But the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.
A person answering the phone at the company that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, told The Associated Press they have “no information” and hung up.
According to their website, the Sea Story was built in 2022 and can hold 36 passengers.
The Egyptian military was coordinating rescue operations with the governorate.
Many tourist companies have stopped or limited traveling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.