Tuesday 27 / January / 2026
Muscat: None of the tourists aboard the vessel were wearing life jackets when a tourist boat capsized off the coast of Muttrah on Tuesday morning, an incident that claimed the lives of three elderly French nationals and left two others with minor injuries, according to the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) and the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
Rescue and ambulance teams from the CDAA in Muscat Governorate responded immediately after receiving a report at 9:40 a.m. Emergency units, including water rescue and ambulance teams, were dispatched to the Sultan Qaboos Port jetty in Muttrah.
In special statements to Times of Oman, Captain Ali bin Saeed Al Farsi from the Directorate of Relations and Media at the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority said rescue teams acted swiftly upon receiving the alert.
He confirmed that three tourists were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site by ambulance crews.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Oman Police, preliminary information indicates that the boat capsized approximately 2.5 nautical miles from Sultan Qaboos Port in Muttrah. The vessel was carrying 25 French tourists, along with a tour guide and the boat’s captain.
Captain Al Farsi stressed that adherence to safety procedures is essential and mandatory to protect lives during marine activities, noting that the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of wearing life jackets at all times.
Authorities said there is no confirmed information yet regarding the exact circumstances of the accident or whether the boat was licensed for tourist transport. Initial indications suggest that weather conditions may have contributed to the incident.
The type and size of the boat could not be determined, as rescue teams were unable to reach it.
All three victims were elderly French nationals, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.
