Six students died and 24 others were injured during a school trip to Abu Talat Beach in Alexandria, Egypt, on Saturday, August 23, 2025. The tragedy occurred when students from an aviation hospitality academy entered the water and encountered dangerous sea conditions.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, emergency services dispatched 16 fully equipped ambulances immediately to the scene. Despite rescue efforts, six students were pronounced dead at the beach. Three additional students received treatment on site, while 21 others were transported to nearby hospitals for drowning-related asphyxia.
The hospitalized students were divided between two medical facilities: 13 were taken to Agami Specialized Hospital and eight to Al-Amreya General Hospital. All patients remained under the care of specialized medical teams for treatment of their water-related injuries.
Five of the deceased victims have been identified as Habeeba El-Sayed, Nour Mamdouh, Salma Essam, Fares Yasser, and Wessa Sawiris, all aged 16. A sixth body was recovered from the water but the individual has not yet been publicly identified. The group consisted mostly of teenagers between 16 and 18 years old.
According to witness accounts, the incident began when a female student left the organized shore activities and entered the water alone. When she began experiencing difficulty in the water, lifeguards and rescue teams responded to assist her. During the emergency response, more than 100 other students attempted to enter the sea to help their classmate, but many were caught by powerful waves and strong currents.
Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt’s health minister, closely monitored the situation and indicated that the families affected by the incident would receive the ministry’s full support. He confirmed that emergency treatment was being provided to all affected students.
Local Alexandria officials ordered the immediate closure of Abu Talat Beach following the incident. Red warning flags were raised across the area to alert the public about hazardous sea conditions and strong currents that make swimming dangerous. The Ministry of Health stated it “urges the public to adhere to safety guidelines on beaches.”
Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning incident. Officials are examining whether proper safety measures were in place during the school trip and reviewing the events that led to the tragedy.
The ministry renewed its call for the public to follow beach safety guidelines, particularly during group outings, emphasizing that prevention remains the most effective way to save lives. This incident adds to Egypt’s summer drowning statistics, which typically increase along the Mediterranean coast due to rougher sea conditions.
Drowning incidents in Egypt often spike during summer months, especially along the Mediterranean coastline where sea conditions can become particularly hazardous. The World Health Organization reports approximately 300,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide, with children being most susceptible to these incidents.
Children under age five account for nearly 25% of all drowning deaths globally. The WHO identifies drowning as the fourth leading cause of death for children between ages one and four, and the third leading cause of death for children between ages five and 14.
This tragedy occurs amid heightened scrutiny of tourism safety in Egypt. In March 2025, six tourists died when the Sindbad pleasure submarine sank off the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada. That vessel was carrying 45 tourists and five Egyptian crew members when it went down during a 40-minute underwater reef viewing tour.
The submarine incident resulted in 39 people being rescued, though 29 required hospitalization for injuries. All six fatalities in that incident were Russian nationals. A survivor from the submarine accident reported that the vessel began diving with its hatches open, forcing passengers to save themselves as best they could.
Egypt’s tourism industry remains heavily dependent on visitor safety, making incidents like these particularly significant for the country’s economic interests. The nation continues to work on improving safety protocols for both domestic school groups and international tourists visiting its beaches and recreational facilities.
