Egyptian Tourist Submarine Disaster: Six killed, over 30 rescued near Hurghada

tourist submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Hurghada on Thursday morning, killing six Russian nationals, including two children. The vessel was carrying 45 Russian tourists on an underwater coral reef tour when it submerged and failed to resurface.

Egypt’s Red Sea governorate confirmed the death toll in a Facebook post, stating that all those killed were Russian. The Russian consul in Hurghada told RIA Novosti that 38 Russians were rescued, while 14 were hospitalised. The governorate added that no one else was missing.

What Happened?

The Russian embassy in Egypt said the incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. local time, roughly one kilometre from the shore. «The vessel crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore,» the embassy stated. The cause of the accident remains unclear.

Russian state-run news agency Tass confirmed the fatalities, quoting Russia's consul general in Hurghada, Viktor Voropayev, who said, «The death toll has risen to five, including two minors.» The Associated Press reported that a sixth victim was also a foreign national, but their identity was initially unknown.

Rescue Efforts and Survivors

Emergency teams were dispatched to the scene, rescuing a total of 39 people. RIA Novosti reported that 21 people were hospitalised, including seven children aged between two and fifteen. Others were taken back to their hotels.

Live Events

Sindbad Submarines, which operated the vessel, has not issued a statement. The company's website claims its submarines are «engineered in Finland to sustain underwater pressure up to 75m, ensuring safety and reliability.» It also states that oxygen masks and life vests are available onboard in case of emergency.

A Popular but Risky Destination

Hurghada is one