A tourist boat carrying French nationals capsized and sank off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman on the morning of January 27, resulting in the death of three tourists and several injuries, according to Omani authorities and official sources.
The boat was carrying 25 French tourists as well as a guide and a captain when it capsized about 2,5 nautical miles from Sultan Qaboos port, in the Muttrah region, near Muscat, the capital of the sultanate, local law enforcement said in a statement released on social media.
The deaths of three tourists have been officially confirmed.
In this statement, the police specified that the incident had "resulted in the deaths of three tourists and minor injuries to two others"The injured were treated on site by ambulance and civil defense services, which were quickly mobilized after the alert.
Rescue teams successfully evacuated all other passengers after the boat capsized approximately 4,6 kilometers off the coast. Images and eyewitness accounts of the rescue operation circulated in several international media outlets in the hours following the tragedy.
The circumstances of the capsizing are still unclear.
The exact causes of the accident are still under investigation. An official inquiry is underway to establish the precise circumstances of the sinking. According to initial findings, the vessel may have begun taking on water at sea following a possible mechanical problem, which could have contributed to its loss of balance.
According to initial reports from local sources, none of the people on board were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, a point noted as a potentially aggravating factor.
On the French side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that consular officials were mobilized to assist the victims' families and coordinate support for the survivors. The Omani authorities, for their part, are continuing their investigations in conjunction with rescue services and the relevant maritime authorities.
Oman, a tourist destination facing maritime security challenges
Located on the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman attracts a growing number of international travelers with its coastal scenery, sightseeing cruises, and water sports. This deadly shipwreck, however, serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with maritime excursions and the importance of safety at sea in a region where nautical tourism plays a significant role.
