Blasts Strike Egypt Resort Town. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

Three explosions have been heard in the Egyptian resort town of Dahab, according to the Reuters news agency.

A witness said he heard the blasts and saw smoke in a tourist bazaar area. “There is smoke coming from the area and there are people running everywhere,” the unnamed witness said.

Dahab is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula. Police said more than 20 ambulances and police cars were rushing to the el-Masbat section of the city.

UPDATE at 4/24/06 11:01:16 am:

Three Blasts Rock Egyptian Resort City.

CAIRO, Egypt - Three explosions Monday night rocked the Egyptian resort city of Dahab and there were at least 100 dead and wounded, according to the doctor who runs Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula rescue squad.

Dr. Said Essa said he was headed to the scene of the blasts, one of which hit the el-Mashrabiyah Hotel.

UPDATE at 4/24/06 11:38:20 am:

The Jerusalem Post reports that this area is frequented by Israeli tourists:

Seventeen people were killed and at least 150 were wounded on Monday night in three massive explosions in Dahab, on the east of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

People were frantically trying to escape the area and dozens of ambulances were at the scene, Zaka reported.

The bombs were apparantly placed on a bridge, in the El-Kalheeg Hotel cafeteria and near a police station prior to the explosions.

Following the blasts Israel’s security forces raised the level of alert in Eilat. It was unclear if Israelis were among the casualties.

The Sinai resort is commonly frequented by Israeli holidaymakers and is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula.

Germans, Italians and British tourists were also reported to be in the area.