Tourist submarine sinks off Egypt’s coast, killing six

Cairo: Six Russians died on Thursday and 39 foreign tourists were rescued when a viewing submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

The Red Sea Governorate said the submarine, named Sindbad, had 50 people onboard: 45 tourists of different nationalities from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden, and five Egyptian crew members.

“Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” the Russian consulate in Hurghada said.

Russian and Egyptian officials did not immediately say what caused the submarine to sink.

Russia’s Tass news agency said five Russians were confirmed dead, including two children. Two Egyptian municipal officials – speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media – said the total toll was six, but the nationality of the sixth was not immediately known.

The submarine was equipped with large portholes to let passengers see the Red Sea’s spectacular corals and marine life, and was able to descend to a depth of 25 metres, according to the company’s website.

The governor of the Red Sea governorate (left) speaks to survivors of the tourist submarine disaster in a hospital in Hurghada.Credit: AP

The Red Sea is a major hub for Egypt’s crucial tourism industry, a pillar of the economy, in which Russian tourists play an increasing part. But many tourism companies have stopped or limited travel on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region. Egypt also attracts tourists with its pyramids at Giza and cruises on the Nile in Luxor and Aswan.

Hurghada is a major destination for divers and snorkellers drawn by the Red Sea’s extensive coral reefs. Several companies run submarine tours with large windows offering views of the reefs and marine life, usually cruising at around 20 metres in depth.

Successive Egyptian governments have waged successful crackdowns on Islamist militant groups that have hurt the tourism industry with attacks on foreigners in the past.

Egyptian authorities are conducting investigations with the crew to determine the cause of the disaster, according to the Red Sea Province Governor Amr Hanafy.

The submarine, which is owned by an Egyptian, was licensed and so was the crew captain, he said.

In November, a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea after warnings of rough waters, Egyptian officials said. At least four people drowned, while 33 were rescued.

AP, Reuters

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