2004 Travel Warnings

Sinai Information

October 8, 2004

On Thursday evening, October 7, an explosion severely damaged the Hilton Hotel in Taba, on the northeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, causing a number of fatalities and injuries. There are indications that the blast was a terrorist attack; however, investigations on the cause of the explosion are underway. Other explosions took place elsewhere on the east coast of Sinai, including one in the area of the town of Nuweiba in which there were several reported casualties.

While there is no indication that U.S. citizens were the targets of these attacks, American citizens in Israel and the occupied territories are urged to exercise caution and remain vigilant. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to the east coast of Sinai north of Sharm el Sheikh, particularly in the vicinity of the towns of Taba and Nuweiba.

For further information U.S. citizens may call the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv at 03-519-7551 or the American Consulate General in Jerusalem at 02-622-7230. Information on security and other conditions for American citizens can be found on the Embassy's website http://israel.usembassy.gov or on the Consulate General's at http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov. Please also refer to the most recent State Department Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement for additional security information. These documents are available at http://travel.state.gov.