Six dead and dozens rescued after tourist submarine sinks off Egypt

27 March 2025, 10:16 | Updated: 27 March 2025, 14:55

The six people who died after a tourist submarine sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt were all Russians, Egypt's Red Sea governate has said.

The governate added that 39 tourists were rescued when the viewing submarine sank off the resort of Hurghada.

It also said that no people are missing.

The submarine, called Sindbad, was carrying 45 passengers, including children, Sky News' US partner network NBC reported earlier.

It is not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.

The Russian embassy had earlier confirmed four of its citizens had been killed.

The embassy in Cairo told NBC: "On March 27, at about 10:00, 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. All of them are Russian citizens."

It added: "Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada.

"Their health condition is not a concern. Four people died. The fate of several tourists is being clarified."

Those on the submarine had paid for a sea trip to the coral reefs in Hurghada, according to local media reports.

Security and emergency services responded to the incident, including 21 ambulances, Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reported.

The submarine had been operating tourist trips in the area for several years, the news outlet added.

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Hurghada is a beach resort town stretching around 25 miles along Egypt's Red Sea coast.

The submarine embarked off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area, Egyptian officials who did not want to be named, told the Associated Press news agency.

The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a major hub for Egypt's crucial tourism industry, in which Russian tourists play an increasingly large part.

A United Nations report ranked Egypt first in Africa for tourism revenues in 2024 at $14.1bn (£11bn), more than twice what it earns in Suez Canal revenues, highlighting tourism's vital role in sustaining the hard-pressed economy.

However, some tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.

In November, four people drowned and 33 were rescued when a tourist diving boat was struck by high waves and sank within minutes.

(c) Sky News 2025: Six dead and dozens rescued after tourist submarine sinks off Egypt