Russian tourists killed as submarine sinks near Egypt’s Hurghada
Entrance to the General Hospital of Hurghada, Egypt (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Several Russian nationals died after a tourist submarine sank near the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada, with the incident currently under investigation, CNN reports.
According to a statement from the Russian Embassy in Egypt, the accident occurred at 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, when the submarine Sindbad "crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore." The embassy noted that all 45 people on board were Russian citizens, including minors, though it remains unclear if any of the children were among the victims.
The vessel was making a routine underwater excursion to view coral reefs when the incident happened. "According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," said the embassy, adding that "the fate of several tourists is being clarified." Six fatalities were reported by local media, all of them foreign nationals.
Questions raised over safety measures
The Sindbad submarine is owned by a hotel of the same name and promoted as part of a regular tourist attraction.
The company’s website claims its submarines are Finnish-engineered and able to withstand pressure up to 75 meters deep, with "oxygen masks located overhead and life vests under the seats." Each of the two submarines in the fleet can carry 44 passengers and two pilots and is equipped with large viewing windows and air-conditioned cabins.
As the investigation continues, the tragedy is raising new concerns about tourist safety in one of Egypt’s most vital economic sectors.
