17 missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes

Egyptian authorities said 17 people including foreigners were missing after a tourist yacht capsized off the country's Red Sea coast on Monday, with 28 others rescued.

The vessel, which was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities and a 14-member crew, sent out a distress call at 5:30 am (0330 GMT), said a statement from Egypt's Red Sea governorate. An AFP tally confirmed that tourists involved in the incident include nationals from Britain, China, Finland, Poland and Spain.

The "Sea Story" embarked on Sunday on a multi-day diving trip from Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam in the southeast, and had been due to dock on Friday at the town of Hurghada, 200 kilometres (124 miles) north.

Governor Amr Hanafi said that some survivors were rescued by an aircraft, while others were transported to safety aboard a warship.

"Intensive search operations are underway in coordination with the navy and the armed forces," Hanafi added in a statement.

Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists. Beijing's embassy in Egypt said two of its nationals were "in good health" after being "rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea", Chinese state media reported