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One of the three British passengers who died after a dive boat caught fire in Egypt has been named.

Christina Quinn, 58, was chief executive of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, and had a long career in the NHS.

A spokesperson for her family said: “It is with great sadness that we confirm the tragic death of Christina Quinn in Egypt.

“She was a sister, daughter, wife, aunty, friend, and rock to many. She will be missed beyond words.”

Posted on the official FB page for the Red Sea Governate
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This image was posted on the official Facebook page for the Red Sea Governate. Pic: Mohamed Kaddah

The three tourists were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were on a week’s stay on the Hurricane vessel when the fire broke out around 8.30am local time (6.30am UK time) on Sunday.

The trio who died had chosen not to dive that day, while the other 12 were attending a briefing on board when the blaze began.

The vessel, which had left Port Ghalib on Tuesday last week, was located off the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea near the town of Marsa Alam when the incident happened.

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Footage on social media appeared to show the boat almost entirely engulfed in flames and smoke.

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Three British passengers confirmed dead
Boat burst into flames in Egypt

A nearby vessel was used to evacuate the 12 tourists, and the 14 crew members also had to abandon ship, according to Scuba Travel, a British holiday company.

Paying tribute to Ms Quinn, Charles Hackett, chair of St Luke’s Trustees, said: “Christina was incredibly passionate about St Luke’s and its place at the heart of the community it serves, and we are devastated to lose her warmth, wisdom, and leadership.”

He said Ms Quinn had previously worked voluntarily for six years as chair of St Luke’s board, adding: “We will miss Christina enormously.”

Authorities said initial reports suggested the blaze was due to an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room.

A full investigation into the cause is to be carried out by police and local authorities.

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Iran says its carried out ‘mighty and successful’ attack on US bases in Qatar and Iraq

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Iran says its carried out 'mighty and successful' attack on US bases in Qatar and Iraq

Iran claims it has carried out a “mighty and successful response” to “America’s aggression” after launching missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq.

The attacks come after the US dropped “bunker buster bombs” on three key nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.

Iran’s response this evening is the latest escalation in tensions in the volatile region.

Qatar has said there are no casualties at the al Udeid base following the strikes and that its “air defences thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles”.

People in Qatar’s capital, Doha, had stopped and gazed up at the sky as missiles flew and interceptors fired.

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Iran had announced on state television that it had attacked American forces stationed at the al Udeid airbase.

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A caption on screen called it “a mighty and successful response” to “America’s aggression” as martial music played.

Iran also targeted the Ain al-Assad base housing US troops in western Iraq, an Iraqi security official told the Associated Press.

Traces are seen in the sky over Qatar after Iran's armed forces targeted the al Udeid base. Pic: Reuters
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Traces are seen in the sky over Qatar after Iran’s armed forces targeted the al Udeid base. Pic: Reuters

A US government official has said the White House and US defence department is “closely monitoring” the potential threats to its base.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is in the Situation Room in the White House with his team following the Iranian strikes.

The attacks came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.

Just before the explosions, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”

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Major wildfire on Greek island of Chios leads to evacuations – as officials warn ‘situation remains critical’

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Major wildfire on Greek island of Chios leads to evacuations - as officials warn 'situation remains critical'

Nearly 200 firefighters are battling a major wildfire on the Greek island of Chios.

The fire started on Sunday in three separate locations near the main town, which is also called Chios. The flames were fanned by strong winds and turned into one large blaze.

Local media footage and photos showed firefighters battling towering flames burning through woodland and farmland as night fell. Power cuts have also been reported.

Greek authorities sent fresh evacuation notifications for two areas near Chios town on Monday morning.

Local residents watch a wildfire approaching in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece.
Pic: Politischios.gr /AP
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People watch a wildfire approaching. Pic: Politischios.gr /AP

Push alerts have been sent to mobile phones in the area urging people to evacuate a total of 16 villages, settlements and neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the town.

“The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets,” a Greek government spokesman said.

The fire department said 190 firefighters were trying to control the fire on Monday, with strong winds hampering their efforts.

A man uses a branch to battle against a large wildfire burning in Kofinas, on the island of Chios, Greece.
Pic: Politischios/AP
Image:
Pic: Politischios/AP

Some 35 vehicles, five helicopters and two water-dropping planes were also involved in the effort.

A specialist fire department arson investigation team has been sent to the eastern Aegean island to look into the causes.

Read more from Sky News:
Suspected spy arrested in Crete
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Wildfires are common during Greece’s hot, dry summers but authorities have said climate change is fuelling bigger and more frequent blazes.

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Last year, hundreds of tourists and residents were forced to flee wildfires on the holiday island of Kos.

In 2023, forest fires killed at least 20 people in the north of the country and forced 19,000 people to flee the island of Rhodes.

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22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church in Syria – and then detonates explosive vest

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22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church in Syria - and then detonates explosive vest

At least 22 people have been killed after a suicide bomber opened fire at a church in Syria – and then detonated an explosive vest.

This is the first such incident since Bashar al Assad was toppled in December, and officials claim the attacker was a member of Islamic State.

It happened at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, with estimates suggesting that 350 worshippers were praying there at the time.

Pic: White Helmets via Reuters
Image:
Pic: White Helmets via Reuters

Witnesses said the perpetrator had his face covered when he began shooting – and blew himself up as crowds attempted to remove him from the building.

A security source told Reuters that two men were involved in the attack, with a priest saying he saw a second gunman at the entrance.

Officials say 63 people were injured, and children were among the casualties.

Syria’s information minister, Hamza Mostafa, condemned the terrorist attack – writing on X: “This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together.

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“We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship… and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organisations.”

Read more world news:
Live updates after US strikes Iran
Putin threatens nuclear strike on Ukraine

Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

Reports suggest that IS has attempted to attack several churches in Syria since Assad fell, but this is the first time they have succeeded.

Footage filmed by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction inside the church – including bloodied floors and shattered pews.

The Greek foreign ministry says it “unequivocally condemns the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing”, and called on Syria “to guarantee the safety” of Christians with new measures.

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