A yacht, the Sea Story, sank near Marsa Alam, Egypt, on Monday, leaving at least 16 people missing.
The vessel, carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew members on a diving trip, capsized in rough seas. Of the 44 people onboard, 28 were rescued.
While two Americans were reportedly among the passengers, it remains unclear if they are among the missing. Authorities, alerted at 5:30 a.m., launched a search and rescue operation involving helicopters and marine units.
The Red Sea Governorate confirmed the deployment of search and rescue teams and stated that the control center is continuously monitoring the situation.
No fatalities have yet been officially reported. Those rescued sustained only minor injuries.
The 16 missing individuals include 12 foreign nationals from the U.S., Belgium, Spain, Germany, the U.K., China, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland.
Officials suspect a large wave caused the swift sinking, which occurred within five to seven minutes. The Governor noted that some passengers were trapped in their cabins.
An investigation into the cause of the sinking is underway.
Reuters contributed to this report.