Cairo, Mar 27: Six people, including two minors, died on Thursday when a tourist submarine carrying dozens of passengers sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast near the resort town of Hurghada, officials said.
Russia’s Consul in Hurghada, Viktor Voropaev, confirmed that five foreigners and one Egyptian were among the dead. Russia’s consulate in the city stated that the vessel was carrying 45 tourists, including minors, on an underwater excursion to observe coral reefs when it crashed one kilometre from the shore at around 10:00 am local time (0800 GMT).
“According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” the consulate said, adding that diplomats had been dispatched to the pier.
The state-owned Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper reported that six people had died, while 29 others were rescued, including nine who sustained injuries.
The vessel, owned by Sindbad Submarines, was capable of carrying 44 passengers and could dive up to 25 metres (27 yards) deep, according to the company’s website. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Hurghada, located about 460 kilometres (280 miles) southeast of Cairo, is a major tourist destination. The city’s airport received more than nine million passengers last year, according to state media.
The Red Sea region has been the site of several deadly accidents in recent years. In November 2023, a dive boat capsized off the coast of Marsa Alam, leaving four dead and seven missing. In June 2023, 30 people were rescued from another sinking boat. The previous year, three British tourists died when a fire broke out aboard their yacht, engulfing the vessel in flames.
