Three tourists have now been confirmed dead after a fire broke out on a diving boat they were traveling on in the Egyptian Red Sea.
The affected vessel, accommodating a group of 29 people, 15 of whom were British tourists and 14 crew members, was cruising near the coast of Marsa Alam during the incident, Ahram Online media reported. While twelve British tourists were saved, three unfortunately lost their lives.
According to Scuba Travel, the tour operator, and Tornado Marine Fleet, the boat’s operator, a fire erupted on board at 8:30 am local time during a dive briefing. The three tourists who tragically died had chosen not to dive that day and were absent from the briefing.
The fire is reported to have started in the engine room. The 12 other tourists were promptly evacuated while the crew attempted to locate the three missing passengers. Eventually, the crew was forced to abandon the boat, and the victims were found later.
The saved divers were medically treated in Marsa Shagra, a nearby town. Passports and personal effects were lost, destroyed in the fire.
The diving boat, dubbed “Hurricane,” was equipped with luxurious accommodations, a dining room, a living room, and had an onboard chef.
Following the incident, a spokesperson from the UK Foreign Office reassured on Sunday, June 11 that they are working with local authorities and providing assistance to affected British nationals.
The incident comes after a recent closure of beaches in Hurghada, a Red Sea resort, due to a shark attack that resulted in a Russian man’s death.
