Tourist Submarine Sinks off Egypt, Dead 6 People

A submarine carrying Russian tourists collapsed near Egypt's Red Sea coast on Thursday, killing at least six people, local officials reported.

The boat was transporting 45 passengers on a tour of the coral reef off the coast of Hurghada, a major tourist city some 300 miles southeast of Cairo. Rescue crews have rescued 39 individuals from the sea, all of them were foreign visitors, according to Amr Hanafi, governor of Egypt's Red Sea Province. He stated that all of the passengers had been accounted for.

The majority of individuals on board were Russian holidaymakers, according to the Russian embassy in Egypt.

They were among 45 passengers aboard the vessel, which shares the same name as the hotel that owns it, according to the Russian statement, which did not disclose any other information about the incident or what the Sindbad collided with.

“Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” the embassy said, adding that “their health condition is not a concern.”

The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, when the submarine "crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore," according to the embassy. According to the embassy, the vessel was on a regular underwater tour to monitor the coral reef.

According to a website archive from January, the Sindbad resort boasts two submarines capable of diving around 25 meters (82 ft) below. The part of the website describing the warships looked to be operational early Thursday but was removed later in the day. According to the website, the yachts can accommodate 44 visitors and two crew members.

The Russian Embassy stated that the excursion was organized by Biblio Globus Egypt Tours. According to Egyptian Travel Agents Association records, the firm, situated in Hurghada, could not be reached, and its website was down.

Mr. Hanafi, the governor, stated that the vessel had a valid license and that its skipper was properly trained.

The yacht could dive 25 meters below sea level for 40 minutes, allowing guests to explore "500 meters of coral reef and its marine inhabitant."

The agency's assessment highlighted 16 mishaps involving such vessels in the last five years, some of which resulted in deaths. It claimed that the vessels were frequently inadequately built, had inadequate emergency routes, or were operated by people who were not properly prepared to respond in emergency circumstances.

Tourism is an important part of the country's economy, however many tourist businesses have discontinued or reduced their trip on the Red Sea owing to the hazards posed by regional wars.