A HUGE rescue mission has been launched after a boat carrying dozens of tourists sank off the Egyptian coast.
At least 45 people are missing after the Sea Story ship disappeared in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam.
The boat left Porto Ghalib Port for a multi-day diving trip on November 24 and was due to return to Hurghada Marina on November 29.
But at about 5.30am local time, a crew member sent out a distress signal from the boat.
It then dropped off the radar and contact was lost.
The boat – carrying 31 tourists of different nationalities and 14 crew members – is missing and believed to have sunk in the Sha’ab Sataya area.
According to ship tracking website Marine Traffic the last location shared by the boat was off Hurghada.
Authorities have deployed rescue teams as well as a helicopter.
Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafy said several tourists have been saved.
Security sources told Reuters at least 16 people had been rescued so far.
Search operations are continuing to find those still missing.
Built in 2022, Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure boat able to carry up to 32 passengers.
With 18 twin cabins, the vessel takes tourists on diving trips to explore reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea.
