Tourist boat sinks off Egypt

A tourist boat with 45 people has sunk in the Red Sea off Egypt: a rescue operation is underway.

At present, it is known that the Sea Store boat sank in the Red Sea off the coast of the Egyptian resort of Marsa El Alam.

There were tourist divers on the sunken boat, Cairo 24 reports. Several people were rescued.

The boat sank off the Shaab Sataya reef, a popular diving spot. Before that, it sent out a distress signal.

There were 45 people on board: 14 Egyptian crew members, as well as 31 tourist divers. A search and rescue operation is underway.