### Tourists Missing After Dive Boat Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea Coast

CAIRO -- More than a dozen tourists have gone missing following the sinking of a diving boat near Marsa Alam on Egypt's southeastern coast, as confirmed by local authorities on Monday. The incident involved The Sea Story, a boat that went down in the vicinity of the Shaab Satayah area, noted for its coral reefs.

Officials reported that out of the 44 people on board, 16 remained unaccounted for as of Monday afternoon. The remaining 28 individuals were rescued. The passenger manifest included 31 tourists from various countries and at least a dozen crew members. Among the tourists were two Americans, information shared with ABC News by a local council source.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo has stated it is not aware of any American fatalities. "We are aware of the incident that occurred and are in touch with the authorities to provide assistance as necessary. At this time, we are not aware of any U.S. citizen fatalities or unaccounted for U.S. citizens," spokesperson Gina Cabrera told ABC News.

According to the Red Sea Governorate, several passengers had been trapped inside the boat's cabins and could not escape. Search-and-rescue efforts, including the use of a helicopter and a frigate, have been exhausted for the day, but the operations continue.

Gov. Amr Hanafy earlier confirmed that several tourists were rescued but did not specify how many were still missing. Rescued individuals were airlifted from the Wadi el Gemal reserve for medical treatment.

The Sea Story commenced its diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday. A distress signal was sent by a crew member at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, just before the vessel disappeared from radar.

Egypt's Red Sea coast is a popular destination for tourists due to its attractive beaches and diving locations. The incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with maritime excursions in the region.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.