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 encountered dangerous water conditions while swimming at the Mediterranean beach.
According to local reports, the incident began when a female student left the group activity on shore and entered the water alone. When she began drowning, lifeguards and rescue teams rushed to save her. In the ensuing chaos, more than 100 other students attempted to enter the sea to help their classmate. Many were caught in the powerful waves and strong currents, leading to multiple drownings and injuries.
Emergency services responded immediately with 16 fully equipped ambulances dispatched to the scene. Despite the large-scale rescue operation, six students could not be saved and were pronounced dead at the beach. Three additional students received treatment at the scene, while 21 others were transported to nearby hospitals for emergency care.
The injured students were divided between two medical facilities, with 13 taken to Agami Specialized Hospital and eight to Al-Amreya General Hospital. All hospitalized students were being treated for drowning-related asphyxia under the care of specialized medical teams.
Five of the six victims have been identified as Habeeba El-Sayed, Nour Mamdouh, Salma Essam, Fares Yasser and Wessa Sawiris, all aged 16. The sixth victim’s identity has not yet been confirmed. The group consisted mostly of teenagers between 16 and 18 years old.
Khaled Abdel Ghaffa, Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, indicated that emergency treatment was being provided to all affected students. He confirmed that the families impacted by the tragedy would receive the health ministry’s full support as they navigate this difficult time.
Local authorities in Alexandria ordered the immediate closure of Abu Talat Beach following the incident. Red warning flags were raised across the area to warn the public about hazardous sea conditions and to prohibit swimming due to dangerous wave conditions and strong currents. The Ministry of Health emphasized that people should adhere to safety guidelines on beaches, particularly during group outings.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy and whether proper safety measures were in place during the school trip. Officials are examining the protocols followed by the aviation hospitality academy and the supervision provided during the beach visit.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about tourism safety in Egypt. The country experienced another maritime tragedy in March when six tourists died after the Sindbad pleasure submarine sank off the coast of Hurghada in the Red Sea. That vessel was carrying 45 tourists and five Egyptian crew members when it went down during a 40-minute underwater tour.
Following the Alexandria drownings, the Ministry of Health renewed its call for the public to follow beach safety guidelines, emphasizing that prevention remains the most effective way to save lives. The ministry noted that incidents of drowning in Egypt often increase during summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast where rougher sea conditions heighten dangers for swimmers.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 300,000 drowning deaths occur worldwide annually. Children are particularly vulnerable to drowning incidents, with those under five accounting for nearly 25 percent of all drowning fatalities globally. The organization 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.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over Alexandria and sparked urgent conversations about beach safety protocols and supervision requirements during educational trips. Authorities emphasized that “prevention was still the best way to save lives” and stressed the importance of following established safety guidelines to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Egypt’s tourism industry, which the country relies on heavily, continues to face scrutiny regarding safety measures and emergency response protocols. The government has indicated that comprehensive reviews of beach safety procedures and group activity supervision will be conducted as part of the ongoing investigation into this incident.
