Red Sea, Nov 26 (V7N) — A luxury tourist cruise ship, Sea Story, sank in the Red Sea early Monday, leaving 16 people missing while 28 were rescued alive. Egyptian authorities confirmed the incident, which involved passengers from multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, China, and Poland.

The ship, carrying 44 people—13 crew members and 31 tourists—departed from the Egyptian port of Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day voyage. The crew were all Egyptian nationals. At approximately 5 a.m. local time on Monday, the ship issued a distress signal after encountering rough conditions.

Among the missing are two Britons, four Egyptians, two Poles, and one Finnish national, according to updates from the respective countries. Officials have yet to confirm the identities of all missing passengers.

The Egyptian Meteorological Office had issued weather warnings for the Red Sea and Mediterranean on Saturday, cautioning of winds reaching 60-70 km/h and waves as high as 10-13 feet. Passengers reported that the vessel overturned after being struck by a massive wave, which is suspected to be the cause of the accident.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities are working to locate the missing passengers. Maritime safety experts are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disaster, as questions arise about whether the warnings were adequately heeded by the ship's operators.

This tragic incident highlights the dangers of ignoring severe weather advisories, particularly in volatile sea conditions.

END/RH/AJ