Four bodies have been recovered as search and rescue efforts continue after the sinking of a tourist boat in the Red Sea.
The Egyptian authorities also say three more people have been rescued – bringing the number of those still missing to nine.
Two of those missing are British, the BBC understands.
The boat with 44 people on board – including 13 crew – sent a distress signal at 05:30 (03:30 GMT) on Monday, according to the governor of Red Sea province. It is thought the boat may have sunk after being hit by a large wave.
EPATuesday’s update from the Red Sea governor, Maj-Gen Amr Hanafi, brings the total number of people rescued to 35.
The Sea Story left port near the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving trip, officials said.
The boat with 44 people on board sent a distress signal at 05:30 (03:30 GMT) on Monday, according to the governor of the Red Sea governorate.
Hanafi said the boat sank within five to seven minutes and that some people were unable to escape from their cabins.
Survivors were found in the Wadi el-Gemal area, south of Marsa Alam, he added.
On Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority issued warnings about turbulence and high waves on the Mediterranean and Red seas.
Wind speeds were between 37-43 mph (60-70 kmph), and wave heights were three to four metres (10-13ft) high, they said.
According to the local council in Marsa Alam, the crew of the Sea Story are all Egyptians while the tourists on board included five Spanish, four British, four Germans and two US nationals.
There was also an Irish person on board the ship, the Red Sea governor said, though it is not known if they are among the missing.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they were providing “support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt”.
The Chinese embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals were “in good health” after being rescued.
EPAMarsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast. It is surrounded by diving spots, including renowned coral reefs.
The Red Sea governorate said the boat was owned by an Egyptian national, and had received a one-year validity certificate in March 2024 when it was inspected by maritime safety.
Hanafi said there were no technical faults at the time of the incident.
He also visited Marsa Alam to see the people rescued, and said they were all in good health, and no-one had needed admission to hospital. The passengers are being taken to a tourist hotel in the area, he added.
The BBC has contacted Sea Story’s Egypt-based owner and operator, Dive Pro Liveaboard.
Its website says the vessel was built in 2022 and is 44m (144ft) long. It has four decks and 18 cabins that can accommodate up to 36 passengers.
Last year, three Britons died off the coast of Marsa Alam after their dive boat caught fire.
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