Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
A tragic accident struck the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada on Thursday morning when a tourist submarine sank, claiming the lives of six tourists, including two children.
Reports state that 29 people were injured, with some stating that four were in a critical condition.
According to the Egyptian authorities, the vessel was carrying approximately 45 tourists and five Egyptian crew members at the time of the incident.
The rescue teams reportedly managed to rescue 39 people, with the wounded individuals being rushed to local hospitals for treatment.
The Russian consulate in Hurghada declared that all 45 passengers were Russian nationals, however, Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafy said that the group also includes citizens of India, Norway, and Sweden.
Hanafy visited the site of the sinking and announced the launch of a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of this calamity. He emphasized that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that all necessary medical care is provided to the wounded.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, reportedly directed officials to provide urgent medical assistance and ordered a technical review of the incident, including an inspection of the submarine’s maintenance records.
The submarine, named “Sindbad,” was on an underwater tour exploring coral reefs when it suddenly went down off the coast of Hurghada, a famous diving destination and the capital of the Red Sea Governorate, Southeast Egypt.
Earlier in November, a luxury Yacht capsized in the Red Sea, leading to the death of four people, while 33 were rescued. No issues were declared after inspection, and Hanafi later declared that a large wave caused the boat to capsize.
As a premier tourist destination, this sector plays a vital role in sustaining Egypt’s economy, with the country achieving a record-breaking revenue of $14 billion in 2024.
