- Six people died and 39 were rescued after a tourist submarine sank near Hurghada, Egypt.
- Most passengers were Russian vacationers, including seven children.
- The submarine was on a coral reef excursion when it crashed 1 km from shore.
- The vessel was operated by Sindbad Submarines, which claims years of experience.
- The cause of the sinking remains under investigation.
Tourist Submarine Sinks Near Hurghada
Six people were killed and dozens more were rescued from Red Sea waters on Thursday after a tourist submarine sank near the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada, according to the Russian embassy and Egyptian state-run media. The tragedy, which struck off Egypt’s typically idyllic eastern coastline, sparked a frantic rescue effort and left 21 people in hospital – including seven children, aged between two and 15 – according to Russian state-run outlet RIA Novosti.
Passengers and Rescue Efforts
Most of those on board were Russian vacationers, according to RIA and the Russian embassy in Egypt. A total of 39 people were rescued, Reuters reported citing Egyptian authorities. Those killed were foreign nationals, the agency said. The incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. local time Thursday, when the submarine “crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore,” the embassy said. The vessel was on a regular underwater excursion to inspect the coral reef, the embassy added.
About the Submarine
Hurghada is a popular beach town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, and the company that runs the submarine tours claims to be well-established in exploring the region’s dramatic seabed. The operator of the submarine has an “expert team” with “years of experience,” according to its website, adding that its submarines were “engineered in Finland to sustain underwater pressure up to 75m, ensuring safety and reliability.”
Previous Incidents
In November, at least 16 people went missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas. At the time, it was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. Egypt’s tourism economy is among its key sources of revenue.
Ongoing Investigation
The cause of the submarine’s sinking is not yet known. Rescuers waited on the beach for possible survivors after the incident. The Egyptian tourism ministry and local authorities in Hurghada have not yet responded to requests for comment.