Six Dead as Tourist Submarine Sinks During Red Sea Reef Tour

A tourist submarine carrying 45 people on a cruise through the coral reefs of the Red Sea sank off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt, leaving six Russians dead, officials confirmed.

Rescue teams managed to save the remaining passengers, though more than two dozen were injured. Authorities haven’t yet determined what caused the vessel to go down, but it happened about a kilometer offshore, according to the Russian consulate.

The submarine, named Sindbad, was on one of its usual underwater tours—these trips last about 40 minutes and take passengers around 25 meters below the surface, offering panoramic views of marine life. There were 45 tourists on board, along with five Egyptian crew members when it sank.

Major-General Amr Hanafi, the governor of the Red Sea region, confirmed that all six fatalities were Russian. Of the 39 people rescued, 29 were injured and taken to hospitals. Thankfully, no one is still missing.

Hurghada is a popular spot for diving and underwater tourism, thanks to its beautiful coral reefs. But this incident is raising serious concerns about safety.

The company operating the submarine has yet to make a statement. Russia’s Tass news agency reported that at least two of the victims were children. Initially, the Russian consulate said all the tourists onboard were Russian, but later, the governor clarified that there were also Indian, Norwegian, and Swedish passengers.

Footage released by the governor’s office showed Hanafi visiting survivors in the hospital, including two of the Egyptian crew members. One Russian tourist had a bandage on his head, while a family with two young daughters reassured him they were okay. Meanwhile, an Indian passenger was seen desperately asking about his daughter, who doctors said was in critical condition.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first accident of its kind. Just last November, a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea after warnings of rough waters, leaving four people dead and 33 others rescued.

While tourism is a huge part of Egypt’s economy, many companies have started limiting trips on the Red Sea, not just because of safety concerns but also due to the ongoing regional conflicts.