Tourist submarine sinks off Egypt coast killing atleast six

At least six people have died after a submarine carrying dozens of tourists sank off the coast of Egypt.

A further nine have been injured, four critically, in the disaster which happened around a kilometre off the holiday resort of Hurghada this morning.

The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying around 44 international passengers, including children, at the time of the sinking, which took place off the marina of the Sindbad Club Hotel.

Rescue services have so far managed to save 29 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate.

Egyptian officials have said at least six are dead while Moscow’s embassy in Cairo says all passengers were Russian, with four of its citizens among the deceased.

According to Russian media, the death toll may be as high as nine with unconfirmed reports claiming that the vessel collided with a reef and ‘depressurised’ at 65ft which caused it to sink.

Some 21 ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the incident, and have been transporting the injured to local hospitals including Al-Kawthar, due to the severity of their conditions.

Reports have claimed the passengers are ‘of different nationalities’ but in a post to Facebook, the Russian embassy in Egypt said that all of the tourists were Russian.

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’.

Russian media later reported that 38 people had been rescued, at least one child was orphaned by the disaster and the parents of a girl in hospital were killed. These reports have not yet been confirmed.

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.

Following the disaster, several tourists currently holidaying in Hurghada who had been on the sub or were planning a trip have left comments on the Sinbad Club Guests Facebook page.

One wrote: ‘Oh my god; we were only on the submarine on Monday just gone it seemed so well organised xx’.

Another added: ‘This is so sad, went on this in January. Thinking of all involved this is tragic xx’.

A third commented: ‘Such sad news for all involved, my son wanted to go on this.. not now we won’t.. xx’.

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.’ 

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.

Passengers who had travelled on an Egyptian tourist boat which left three Brits missing in June 2023 when it caught fire claimed it had ‘reoccurring issues’.

People who had boarded the Hurricane, a Red Sea-based boat in Egypt, said they were ‘not surprised’ it had gone up in flames just a week after they left.

One diving enthusiast who stayed on the vessel in May of that year told MailOnline it was plagued with problems and there were ‘issues below decks’.

It was said to be one of the Tornado Marine Fleet tours, which offers ‘Luxury Red Sea Liveaboards’ for just under £1,500 per trip.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said at the time: ‘We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.’

Similae incident

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.