Three British passengers lacking after boat bursts into flames off Egypt’s coast

A search is underneath manner for 3 lacking British passengers after a diving boat caught fireplace within the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast, officers have mentioned.

Twelve vacationers had been rescued from the vessel in Marsa Alam, which native officers mentioned was carrying 15 British passengers, 10 crew members and two guides.

Authorities mentioned preliminary reviews prompt the hearth was because of {an electrical} fault.

The boat had left Port Ghalib on Tuesday and was because of return on Sunday.

The Red Sea Governorate mentioned: “The initial examination resulted in an electrical short circuit in the engine room, and the investigation authorities went to conduct an inspection and investigation.”

Footage on social media appeared to indicate the boat virtually totally engulfed in flames and smoke.

“We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9km from the beach,” mentioned Ahmed Maher, a diving supervisor at Marsa Shagra village, based on Reuters.

A Foreign Office spokesperson mentioned: “We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.”

The fireplace was noticed at 9.15am on Sunday, and in a press release from the Red Sea Governorate, its secretary normal Major General Mohamed Bandari confirmed the accident was the results of a fireplace on the boat, which was named the Hurricane.

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The assertion added: “He [Mr Bandari] pointed out that the crew and passengers were rescued by the boat named Blue and returned to central Marsa Alam, and a search is still under way for three British passengers by the concerned authorities and other boats, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of readiness and follow-up is under way.”

The Tornado Marine Fleet, which owns the Hurricane vessel, mentioned the boat caught fireplace at 6.30am “while doing the diving briefing”.

It mentioned it was now bringing the boat again to the marina underneath authority supervision.