Twenty-four tourists were rescued after a safari boat struck a coral reef on Wednesday26/6/2024 and capsized near Marsa Alam in Egypt’s southern Red Sea.
The motorboat carrying 24 tourists, mostly French, was on a diving safari near the Sataya Reef area, southeast of Marsa Alam.
Initial investigations suggest that the boat sank due to a ‘large breach’ in its hull, which allowed a significant amount of water to flood the vessel.
A nearby boat rescued all the tourists and transferred them to a marina near the Marsa Alam coast without any injuries.
Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafy has instructed the Red Sea Reserves Authority to form a committee to assess any damage to the coral reefs caused by the sinking vessel. A detailed report on the extent of the damage will be compiled.
The Red Sea’s coral reefs are vital ecosystems, which provide sustenance and shelter for countless marine organisms.
Egypt implements various measures to protect its coral reefs that contribute to a vibrant reef tourism sect
or, including installing buoys to deter vessels from anchoring in fragile areas.
Preservation and restoration of coral reefs in the Red Sea was a focal point during the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), hosted by Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.
The conference unveiled the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative (ERSI) which aims to combat the detrimental effects of climate change on the Red Sea’s coral reefs.
Source: State Information Service Egypt