A tourist submarine carrying 45 people ran into trouble roughly half a mile offshore.
Russian authorities have confirmed that at least six Russian nationals died in Egypt after a tourist submarine sank.
The incident occurred Thursday morning in Hurghada, a resort city, when a submarine owned by a local hotel and operated by a crew of five was taking a group of 45, mainly Russian tourists, to view a coral reef. The emergency took place approximately 1 kilometer from the coast.
The Russian consulate general in Hurghada identified two minors among the six deceased. Consul Viktor Vorpaev told reporters that several people are still missing. Egyptian news sources suggest the total number of fatalities could be as high as nine. Seven survivors were hospitalized following the accident.
The reason for the sinking is currently unknown. Witnesses reported that the submarine began to submerge before all passengers had boarded from a floating platform near the reef, causing widespread panic. A video shared by Russian media showed the chaotic scene as people screamed while the vessel’s top hatch remained open.
Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi, who visited the survivors, stated that the submarine had valid licenses and documentation and assured a transparent investigation. He added that passengers also included citizens from India, Norway, and Sweden.
Reports indicate that most tourists were staying at three hotels: the Sindbad Club, which owns the submersible, as well as Mercure Hurghada and Titanic Beach. The excursion company stated that the submarine was ten years old.
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