Khaberni - The Royal Oman Police announced today, Tuesday, the death of three French tourists and injuries to two others, sustaining minor wounds, due to the capsizing of a tourist boat carrying a group off the coast of Muttrah in the Muscat Governorate.
According to an official statement from the police, the boat was carrying 25 French tourists, in addition to a tour guide and the boat captain, totaling 27 people. The incident occurred approximately 2.5 nautical miles from Sultan Qaboos Port, in the waters of the Gulf of Oman.
The statement clarified that the rescue teams of the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the report. The three victims who died were retrieved at the incident site, while the two injured received first aid at the location before being transported to receive necessary treatment. No other injuries were reported among the rest of the passengers or crew.
The Omani authorities confirmed that investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact causes of the incident, amid initial expectations that marine factors such as waves, wind, human error, or a technical malfunction in the boat could have influenced the event.
The Sultanate of Oman is a famous maritime tourist destination, especially in the Muscat area and Muttrah, attracting thousands of tourists annually to enjoy boat trips, dolphin watching, diving, and touring the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman. These trips are usually organized by licensed tourism companies offering daily safe tours.
In recent years, the Omani authorities have emphasized marine safety standards, including requiring tourism companies to provide sufficient life jackets, communication and rescue devices on all boats.
