A 50-capacity tourist submarine sank Thursday off the coast of Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, claiming the lives of six Russian passengers, and rescuing 39 foreign tourists to safety, Red Sea Governorate said. Officials confirmed all crew and passengers are accounted for.
The doomed ship, Sindbad, was intended for underwater tourism, taking visitors to see the colorful sea life of the Red Sea at depths of 25 meters. On board when the accident occurred were 45 Russian, Indian, Norwegian, and Swedish tourists and five Egyptian crew members. Survivors were immediately taken to local hospitals and hotels for treatment, the Russian consulate in Hurghada said.
The reason for the sinking is still being investigated. Governor Amr Hanafy said that the submarine was licensed and operated by an experienced captain. Egyptian officials are interrogating the crew to identify the conditions that resulted in the tragedy.
This accident is the most recent of a string of maritime accidents within Egyptian waters. In June, a tourist boat was badly damaged by high waves but escaped casualties. A worse accident happened in November when a diving boat that had 31 tourists and 13 crewmen on board flipped over, claiming at least 11 lives.
Egypt, one of Africa’s leading tourist destinations, is heavily reliant on tourism, earning $14.1 billion in 2024, over twice as much as it earns from the Suez Canal. The government keeps pushing to secure tourist safety as the sector is crucial to the nation’s economy.
