Khaberni - In a sudden maritime incident this Monday morning, a tourist boat ran aground on a coral reef in the Hamata area south of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea Governorate, causing it to stop suddenly during a recreational sea trip with 28 people on board, including tourists of various foreign nationalities along with the Egyptian crew.
The security services and the governorate's operations room received a report of the tourist boat, designated for diving and safari trips, running aground and colliding with the coral reefs, which led to water leakage into parts of it and completely stopping its movement, amidst fears of its sinking.
Upon receiving the distress call in the Red Sea Governorate operations room, specialized marine rescue teams and civil protection forces immediately moved, in collaboration with civil defense and ambulance units.
The teams succeeded in rescuing all 28 people without any serious injuries or human losses, as the survivors were transported to nearby medical centers to receive medical examinations and necessary care. The local authorities confirmed that everyone is in stable condition and there are no missing persons.
Local sources reported that the incident did not result in any loss of life or serious injuries, as all the tourists and the boat crew were safely transported to the shore.
The Hamata area, located directly south of Marsa Alam, is one of the most beautiful and renowned diving and marine safari sites in the Red Sea, characterized by the presence of rich and diverse coral reefs very close to sailing routes. However, despite the beauty of these reefs, they pose a significant navigational challenge, especially in cases of changing currents or waves, or minor technical/navigational errors.
Grounding incidents on coral reefs occur relatively rarely in the area, but they are usually caused by factors such as: strong sudden currents, errors in reading navigational charts, or unexpected weather conditions. The speed of response in such incidents is a critical factor in avoiding disasters.
