Six dead including two children after tourist submarine sinks in Egypt’s Red Sea
The Sindbad submarine sank close to the Red Sea harbour in Hurghada
Six people are dead, including two children, after a tourist submarine sank in the Egyptian Red Sea.
The vessel, called Sindbad, was taking tourists to explore coral reefs off the coastal city of Hurghada before it crashed and sank 1km offshore on Thursday. Of the 45 passengers on board, 39 were rescued with one unaccounted for.
The six dead were all Russians, the local governor's office said on Facebook.
Nine people were injured, with at least four in critical condition. Young children on oxygen are among those being treated in hospital.
The Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said there were 50 passengers on board mostly Russian but also Egyptian, Indian, Norwegian and Swedish nationals. He added the vessel had a valid licence, as investigations into what caused the “accident” are ongoing.
He said: “I visited [survivors in hospital] and checked on them. Their injuries ranged from wounds, bruises, sprains and shortness of breath. There are 4 cases in the intensive care that are at risk.”
The submarine, run by Biblio Globus Egypt Tours, was carrying 45 tourists, according to the Russian Embassy in Cairo.
They said in a statement on Facebook: “On March 27, at about 10am, the Sindbad bathyscaphe, owned by the hotel of the same name, crashed 1km off the shore. In addition to the crew, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors.
“Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada. The fate of several tourists is being clarified.”
It is not yet clear what caused the sinking.
An advert by Sindbad Club describes the experience onboard the submarine: “Enjoy the breathtaking view in the air-conditioned comfort and safety of our submarine.
“It offers 44 passenger seats, two pilots’ seats and a sizeable round viewing window for each passenger.
“Experience the beauty of the Red Sea underwater world without getting wet.”
The company added that it holds two of the “14 real recreational submarines” in the entire world.
A British woman said she had been on the submarine the day before.
“We are deeply heartbroken for those who lost their lives and for those injured in the tragic incident involving the Sindbad submarine,” she posted on Facebook. “Just yesterday, we were on the same sub, and it’s unimaginable to see such sorrow unfold. Words fail us in this moment, as our hearts ache for the victims and their families.”
Travel vlogger Curtis Meredith told The Independent he had a “good experience” on the Sindbad submarine last year.
He said: “It’s one of those things that’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“We happened to stay at the Sindbad resort and they have the submarines. I’d imagine most people that stay there go on this excursion.
“For the trip, we got on a normal boat that went further out into the ocean and then mounted a platform before submerging into the submarine.”
Divers go alongside the submarine and hold out fish food to attract the vast arrays of marine life to the windows.
He added: “The sub goes 25 metres deep and explores about 500m of coral reef. It was an amazing experience for us. But it’s such a shame that this has happened.”
“It felt safe for us at the time but realistically, if you are going that deep into the sea it can’t be that safe.”
A spokeswoman for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) told The Independent they were aware of the incident.
“Search and rescue operations are led by the relevant national authorities and if within Egyptian waters, normally domestic regulations would apply,” they said. “IMO has developed and issued guidelines on the design, construction and operation of passenger submersible craft, which provide internationally agreed safety standards for their design and operation.
“They apply to submersible craft adapted to accommodate passengers and are intended for underwater excursions with the pressure in the passenger compartment at or near one atmosphere.”
The coastal city of Hurghada is one of the largest resort destinations along the Red Sea coast and attracts large numbers of tourists each year, including Britons.
In November last year, a tourist yacht named Sea Story sank off the same coastal city after warnings of rough waters. At least four people drowned, while 33 were rescued.
Tourism is an important sector of Egypt’s economy, but many tourist companies have stopped or limited traveling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
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