Terrifying moment passengers jump from boat ablaze as three Brits remain missing

11 June 2023 , 22:08

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Terrifying moment passengers jump from boat ablaze as three Brits remain missing

Footage shows the moment passengers on a tourist boat in Egypt jumped to safety as it went up in flames - as three Brits remain missing.

The clip was captured amidst the horrific incident in the Red Sea on Sunday, where multiple people including 12 passengers - understood to be British tourists - and crew had to be rescued.

Three unnamed people, all British, are still at large with a search operation underway.

Fire broke out at the stern of the boat - a tourist passenger vessel named Hurricane - earlier on Sunday as it sailed off the southern Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam after leaving Port Ghalib in the town five days prior.

It's understood the blaze was sparked in the boat's electric room.

Holiday family return to find everything they own - even cat - destroyed in fire

Horrified onlookers captured footage as some passengers jumped off, with a rescue boat motoring over towards it to pick up the boat's crew and passengers in peril.

Footage shows people jumping to safety after a tourist boat off the Egyptian coast caught fire (@AsharqNews/Twitter)

One person could be seen clinging to the boat in terror, apparently frightened to enter the water.

Egypt's Red Sea Governate has since confirmed 12 crew members and 12 British tourists were rescued in the drama.

A spokesman for Tornado Marine Fleet, the company that owns the boat, said: "Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire.

"We do have three missing British passengers and all others (have) reached the nearest land safely.

Plumes of smoke could be seen coming from the stern of the boat

"Now we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision."

The Foreign Office is supporting Brits involved in the incident.

A spokesman said: "We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved."

Susie Beever