Irish person on board capsized tourist yacht in Egypt 'OK'

An Irish person was onboard the tourist yacht which sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt on Monday.

At least three bodies have sadly been recovered after the tourist boat, named Sea Story, capsized in the Red Sea, with 13 people still missing, after a huge wave is said to have struck the vessel and caused it to sink. A distress call was made from the yacht shortly before dawn on Monday.

According to local media outlet Masrawy, the boat departed from Porto Ghalib Port in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was supposed to return to the port of Hurghada on November 29 with 44 people on board.

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Tourists onboard the boat were from Ireland, US, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, China, Finland, Slovakia, Spain and the UK. 28 people have been rescued so far.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin Martin told media in Dublin he understands the citizen is OK following the incident.

"My understanding is that Irish citizen is OK and receiving consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs," he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Mirror: “The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case, is in direct contact with the citizen concerned and is providing consular assistance.

“As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”

Governor of the Red Sea region Amr Hanafi said: "The initial cause of the accident, according to the accounts of foreigners and the Egyptian crew, was a large wave from the sea that hit the boat, causing it to capsize. The matter was sudden and fast, as it took about five or seven minutes."

Mr Hanafi also confirmed that the passengers who were rescued are fine and in good health. According to local media, he said: "All the passengers who were rescued are fine and in good health. None of them were transferred to hospitals as the injuries were minor and varied between bruises and abrasions, and did not require transferring them to hospitals."

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