Six reported dead after Egypt tourist submarine sinks in Red Sea – latest updates | Egypt
What we know so far
Six people have died and nine others are injured after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, two municipal officials said. AP reported that the officials were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
The incident, involving a recreational vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines, occurred in waters opposite Hurghada’s Marriot Hotel resort. Citing municipal officials, Reuters and Associated Press reported that six foreigners, whose nationalities are still unknown, had died. It was not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.
The Russian embassy in Egypt has said that that all of the tourists on board the submarine were Russian. It said 45 passengers were on board the vessel, including children, in a Facebook post.
The local governorate’s office told Reuters that all of those confirmed dead were foreign citizens, while survivors had been ferried by ambulance to several hospitals in the city. Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the governorate. Many tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
The Sindbad club’s website says it offers short tourist trips in two submarines that it operates that have a maximum depth range of 25 metres. According to the website its submarines allow tourists to “experience the beauty of the Red Sea’s underwater world without getting wet”.
Key events
The Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named “SINDBAD”, had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew members.
The consulate said four people had died, but did not specify if they were Russian, Reuters reported.
“According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” the consulate said.
The fate of several tourists was still being clarified, the consulate added.
Local media reported that rescue teams had saved 29 of the 45 passengers aboard the submarine.
What we know so far
Six people have died and nine others are injured after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, two municipal officials said. AP reported that the officials were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
The incident, involving a recreational vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines, occurred in waters opposite Hurghada’s Marriot Hotel resort. Citing municipal officials, Reuters and Associated Press reported that six foreigners, whose nationalities are still unknown, had died. It was not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.
The Russian embassy in Egypt has said that that all of the tourists on board the submarine were Russian. It said 45 passengers were on board the vessel, including children, in a Facebook post.
The local governorate’s office told Reuters that all of those confirmed dead were foreign citizens, while survivors had been ferried by ambulance to several hospitals in the city. Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the governorate. Many tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
The Sindbad club’s website says it offers short tourist trips in two submarines that it operates that have a maximum depth range of 25 metres. According to the website its submarines allow tourists to “experience the beauty of the Red Sea’s underwater world without getting wet”.
Here is an image of one of the two submarines owned by operator Sindbad Submarines:
One of the vessels owned by Sindbad Submarines in Hurghada, Egypt. Photograph: Sindbad Sumbarines
Peter Beaumont
At least six people have reportedly died and nine have been injured after a 44-seater tourist submarine sunk off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
The incident, involving a recreational vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines, occurred in waters opposite Hurghada’s Marriot Hotel resort.
Citing municipal officials, Reuters and Associated Press reported that six foreigners, whose nationalities are still unknown, had died. It was not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.
The Sindbad club’s website says it offers short tourist trips in two submarines that it operates that have a maximum depth range of 25 metres.
According to the website its submarines allow tourists to “experience the beauty of the Red Sea’s underwater world without getting wet”.
The local governorate’s office told Reuters that all of those confirmed dead were foreign citizens, while survivors had been ferried by ambulance to several hospitals in the city.
Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the governorate.
Many tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
Peter Beaumont
The incident, involving a recreational vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines, occurred in waters opposite Hurghada’s Marriot Hotel resort.
The Sindbad club’s website says it offers short tourist trips in two submarines that it operates that have a maximum depth range of 25 metres.
According to the website its submarines allow tourists to “experience the beauty of the Red Sea’s underwater world without getting wet”.
All tourists on board submarine were Russian, says Russian embassy
The Russian embassy in Egypt has said that that all of the tourists on board the submarine were Russian.
It said 45 passengers were on board the vessel, including children, in a Facebook post.
The post said that four people have died, BBC News reports.
Six people have died and nine others are injured after a tourist submarine sank in the Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, it has been reported.
Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate.
Here is a map showing where the incident occurred:
Tourist submarine sinks off Egyptian coast in Red Sea. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate.
The submarine, which was sailing off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area, had carried 45 tourists of various nationalities, AP reported.
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.
All the deceased were foreigners, says state owned newspaper
The website of the state-owned Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper said the deceased were all foreigners, adding that 19 others were injured.
Investigations are under way to determine what caused the accident, according to the newspaper, which said the injured were transported to nearby hospitals along with the bodies of the deceased.
Hurghada, a bustling tourist city 460 kilometres (285 miles) southeast of the Egyptian capital Cairo, is a major destination for visitors to Egypt.
Six reported dead after tourist submarine sinks near Hurghada
Six people have died and nine others are injured after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, two municipal officials said.
AP reported that the officials were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate. The submarine was sailing off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area, and it had carried 45 tourists of various nationalities.
It was not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.
Many tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
