RESCUERS HAVE RECOVERED four bodies and five survivors a day after a diving boat capsized off Egypt’s eastern coast, with seven people still missing.

The vessel was carrying 31 tourists of multiple nationalities and a 13-member crew when it was hit by a large wave early yesterday, leading it to capsize near Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt.

The “Sea Story” had embarked on a multi-day diving trip on Sunday and had been due to dock on Friday at the town of Hurghada, 200 kilometres north.

An Irish citizen was one of the people on board the tourist yacht that sank in the Red Sea off Egypt, but Tánaiste Micheál Martin had confirmed that they are safe.

In an update to reporters this morning, Martin said: “My understanding is that Irish citizen is OK and receiving consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said yesterday that the boat had sunk within 5-7 minutes of its impact with the wave, leaving some passengers unable to escape their cabins in time.

Rescuers from the military and a passing tourist boat had pulled 28 people from the waters yesterday. The total number of survivors rescued now stands at 33.

According to the governor’s office, the boat was carrying tourists from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.

Among the missing are two Polish and one Finnish tourist, according to both countries’ foreign ministries.

Authorities have said the vessel was fully licensed and had passed all its inspection checks. A preliminary investigation showed no technical fault.