THREE bodies have been recovered from the sunken Sea Story yacht, according to the Red Sea governor.
Rescue teams have been searching for 16 people they fear are still missing after the boating tragedy off the Egyptian coast with two Brits still reportedly unaccounted for.
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Emergency crews have found three of the missing tourists as they continue to search for the remaining people, said Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi.
The yacht left Porto Ghalib Port for a multi-day diving trip on November 24, with 45 people on board.
At around 5:30am local time, a crew member sent out a distress signal from the boat before it suddenly dropped off the radar and lost all contact.
So far 28 people have been rescued with search operations continuing in the desperate hunt for the remaining divers.
Governor of the Red Sea, Amr Hanafi, confirmed he has spoken with witnesses of the tragic capsizing who have all said a “large wave” caused it to sink within minutes.
He continued: “The initial cause of the accident, according to the accounts of foreigners and the Egyptian crew, was a large wave from the sea that hit the boat, causing it to capsize.
“The matter was sudden and fast, as it took about five or seven minutes, and some of the passengers were inside the cabins, which is the secret behind their inability to get out of the boat.”
Many of those still feared missing are believed to be experienced divers, Hanafi added.
A professional diver who was out on the water when the yacht was attacked by the wave has revealed the horrifying five minute disaster.
They said: “I was on the surface when things started to go wrong. I felt the boat tilting sharply, and I tried to hold on to something stable, but the capsizing was very fast.
“I heard screams from inside the cabins, but many were unable to get out because the doors were closed and the place was filled with water.”
Another tourist, believed to be a Brit, added: “It was pitch black and the water was all around us.
“I tried to swim up but the current was so strong I felt like I was suffocating.
“What saved me was my life jacket that kept me on the surface until rescue teams arrived.”
An Egyptian crew member described the wave as “abnormally large”.
