BBC News
David McCarthur Mbe / ReutersSix people died after a tourist submarine flowed into the Red Sea in Egypt.
Local officials say that 39 others were rescued after the ship sank around 10:00 am local time. Unbeathered reports have suggested that the ship hit a reef and lost pressure.
Two married doctors are among those who died and their daughters stay at the hospital, the authorities said. A Russian official said that two other deceased were children, according to TASS, the Russian state news agency.
This is the second incident involving a tourist ship in the Red Sea in recent months. In November, a boat capsized near Marsa Allam, which left 11 disappeared, presumed dead.
The governor of the Red Sea, Amr Hanafy, said that the passengers of the “Sindbad” were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on board.
Mr. Hanafy said the six who died were all Russian, but that the complete details of the victims had not yet been released.
An investigation into the incident is underway, but the association of Russia’s tour operators cited in an unconfirmed telegram post reports that the submarine hit a reef and later lost the pressure when it was 20 meters (65 feet).
The city of Hurghada is located southeast of Cairo – a tourist destination which is known both for its beaches and its coral reefs.
Dr. James Aldridge of Bristol made the same trip to the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC: “The submarine was well maintained and was indicated in promotional photos.
“Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English -speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you).”
He explained that the passengers had listened to a security briefing, which had been recorded in several languages, and said that the life jackets had not been issued.
“We visited the reef for 40 minutes. During the first 20, I was facing the reef, the submarine was never distant” too close “and I never felt dangerous. For the return trip, I was facing the ocean,” he added.
