The two Belgians missing after the Sea Story, an Egyptian tourist boat out on an excursion with divers, capsized in the Red Sea early on Monday, have been found safe and sound. The Walloon couple from Namur both work as diving instructors in Cyprus.
VRT News has spoken with people at the Poseidon Dive Centre, in the resort of Protaras in Cyprus, where the Belgians work. ‘They are both OK, but were hospitalised,’ a colleague says. A total of seven people on board are still reported to be missing. At least four bodies have already been recovered. 33 people have been rescued.
It was long feared for the lives of the two Belgians, who were on board the sunken ship. They were pulled from the water alive on Monday. The Belgian foreign ministry is not releasing the names of the Belgians for the time being or saying whether they need medical assistance.
Several other people who were pulled from the water alive have also been airlifted to receive medical care.
A member of the Sea Story’s crew has told how the boat was hit by a large wave in the middle of the night, causing it to capsize. Local media spoke of waves up to 4 metres high.