Three British holidaymakers are missing after a boat on a scuba diving trip burst into flames.
The Hurricane caught fire in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt.
It is the second boating disaster in the region within the last few day after a Russian tourist was savaged by a shark.
A dozen Britons were among the twenty-four people – including a 12-person crew – on board the Hurricane for the week-long live-on-board trip.
The yacht was near Elphinstone reef when she burst into flames after an explosion.
Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village, said:
“We saw smoke from the boat, it was around nine kilometers from the beach.
“A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off.”
However, three Britons are still missing.
The Hurricane, operated by Tornado Marine Fleet, is thought to have had an electrical short circuit in the engine room, local authorities said, after an initial investigation.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said:
“We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam and are supporting British nationals involved.”
In April, another yacht, the Carlton Queen, capsized and sank near Hurghada.
There were no casualties.
