At least six people are feared dead after a tourist submarine sank off the coast of Egypt.
A further nine have been injured, four critically, in the disaster which happened a kilometre off the holiday resort of Hurghada this morning.
The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying around 44 passengers, including children, at the time of the sinking on Thursday.
Rescue services have so far managed to save 29 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate.
The Russian embassy in Cairo has reported that four Russian citizens are among the deceased following the incident.
The Red Sea Security Directorate was informed about a tourist submarine sinking near the harbor and in front of a well-known hotel whose name has not been disclosed by local media.
The Red Sea Health Directorate and the Egyptian Ambulance Authority have been placed on maximum alert following the disaster.
Following the incident, 21 ambulances rushed to the scene to transport the injured to nearby hospitals such as Al-Kawthar because of the serious nature of their injuries.
While there were conflicting reports about the nationalities of the passengers involved, the Russian embassy in Egypt stated on Facebook that all the tourists onboard were Russian.
The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying around 44 passengers at the time of the sinking on Thursday, as it sailed off the coast of Hurghada (file image)
The submarine has been operating for several years (file image)
Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and several nautical jaunts operate from the coast
The post read: ‘On March 27, around 10:00, at a distance of 1 km from the shore, an accident of the submersible ‘Sindbad’, belonging to the hotel of the same name occurred.
‘The submersible carried out a regular underwater excursions with inspection of the coral reef.
‘In addition to crew members, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors. All of them are Russian citizens, tourists of the company ‘Biblio Globus’ (the host tour company in Egypt – ‘Biblio globus Egypt Tours’)
‘According to initial data, most of the passengers on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada.
‘Their health is not a cause for concern. Four people have been killed. The fate of several tourists is being determined.
‘Diplomats of the General Consulate are on the pier of the ‘Sindbad’ hotel’.
The submarine had embarked off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area, Egyptian officials who did not want to be named, told AP.
The passengers had been out on a sea trip to see Egypt’s coral reefs and tropical fish before the vessel, which can dive to depths of up to 72ft, sank.
The submarine has been operating tourist trips in Hurghada for several years.
According to the operator, Sharm Hurghada Excursions, the underwater tour is three-hours long and costs £68 per adult ticket, and £35 for children.
The company boasts its excursions allow visitors to admire Hurghada’s underwater life and extensive coral reef, enjoy a diving experience while staying dry, and see life underwater at a depth of 72ft.
It also claims it holds two of the only ’14 real recreational submarines’ in the world.
The website for Sindbad Submarines continues: ‘It offers 44 passenger seats – two pilots’ seats and a sizable round viewing window for each passenger.’
An aerial view on Hurghada town located on the Red Sea coast, Egypt (file image)
The cause and circumstance of the sinking have not yet been confirmed or reported.
Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and several nautical jaunts operate from the coast.
This is not the first time an incident involving tourist boats has occurred in the waters off the coastal city.
In November last year, a tourist boat named Sea Story sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast.
The boat sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam in the early hours of November 25.
Those who escaped the vessel said a ‘high sea wave’ had hit it and caused it to capsize in ‘about five or seven minutes’, Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said at the time.
The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10 to 13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.
The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29.
Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat.
UK investigators said last month there had been 16 incidents involving ‘liveaboard’ vessels in the area in the last five years, with a number resulting in deaths.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
