Egyptian authorities have confirmed the rescue of 28 survivors from a safari boat that sank off the northern coast of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea. The incident occurred early on Sunday, with the boat, named Sea Story, carrying 31 tourists and 14 crew members. The Egyptian Red Sea Province announced that the survivors, including two Chinese nationals, were airlifted to safety and taken for medical treatment. The Chinese Embassy in Egypt has confirmed the rescue of the two tourists, who were later reported to be in good health.

The boat had departed from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam and was on its way to Hurghada Marina, where it was supposed to arrive on Friday. A distress signal was received from the crew at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time, prompting a search operation. Egyptian naval and air forces are continuing to search for the remaining 17 people still missing. The authorities have deployed a frigate, El-Fateh, along with aircraft to assist in the ongoing search.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over the safety of diving expeditions in the region, a popular destination for tourists. Despite the Egyptian government’s safety protocols, there have been previous accidents along the Red Sea coast this year, although none resulted in fatalities. The local authorities are now working to ensure proper assistance for the rescued tourists while intensifying efforts to locate the missing individuals.