Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Six tourists were killed when a Sinbad tourist submarine sank off the coast of Hurghada, a popular resort city on Egypt Red Sea.
The vessel, was carrying 50 people, including 45 passengers and five crew members. It went down about one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the shore, when the incident occurred on Thursday, March 27.
According to state-owned newspaper Akhbar Al-Youm, all six fatalities were foreign nationals. Egyptian officials later stated that all of the victims were Russian tourists, though earlier reports suggested that one of the deceased was an Egyptian crew member.
At least 29 others were injured and were transported to a nearby hospital along with the bodies of the victims, according to reports from AFP and Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.
“There are no missing persons following the sinking of the tourist submarine in Hurghada,” said Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi.
Tourist Destinations
Hurghada, located approximately 460 kilometers (285 miles) southeast of Cairo, is a major tourist destination known for its diverse marine life and coral reefs. The Red Sea’s reefs and offshore islands are a key attraction for visitors and play a crucial role in Egypt’s tourism industry.
Dozens of tour boats operate daily along the coastline, offering snorkeling and diving excursions. The website of Sindbad Submarines, the company that owns the vessel, claims that it operates the only recreational submarine in the region.
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The Sinbad submarine was operated by a hotel of the same name, offering tourists an underwater experience to explore the vibrant coral reefs of the Egypt Red Sea.
Governor Hanafi confirmed that the submarine was fully licensed, and both the captain and crew held valid certifications for their respective roles. Therefore, Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
(Raidi/Agung)
