logo
Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea, Killing Six and Injuring 29

Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea, Killing Six and Injuring 29

Morocco World28-03-2025

A tragic accident struck the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada on Thursday morning when a tourist submarine sank, claiming the lives of six tourists, including two children.
Reports state that 29 people were injured, with some stating that four were in a critical condition.
According to the Egyptian authorities, the vessel was carrying approximately 45 tourists and five Egyptian crew members at the time of the incident.
The rescue teams reportedly managed to rescue 39 people, with the wounded individuals being rushed to local hospitals for treatment.
The Russian consulate in Hurghada declared that all 45 passengers were Russian nationals, however, Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafy said that the group also includes citizens of India, Norway, and Sweden.
Hanafy visited the site of the sinking and announced the launch of a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of this calamity. He emphasized that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that all necessary medical care is provided to the wounded.
Egypt's Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, reportedly directed officials to provide urgent medical assistance and ordered a technical review of the incident, including an inspection of the submarine's maintenance records.
The submarine, named 'Sindbad,' was on an underwater tour exploring coral reefs when it suddenly went down off the coast of Hurghada, a famous diving destination and the capital of the Red Sea Governorate, Southeast Egypt.
Earlier in November, a luxury Yacht capsized in the Red Sea, leading to the death of four people, while 33 were rescued. No issues were declared after inspection, and Hanafi later declared that a large wave caused the boat to capsize.
As a premier tourist destination, this sector plays a vital role in sustaining Egypt's economy, with the country achieving a record-breaking revenue of $14 billion in 2024. Tags: red seaSubmarineTourism Egypt

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Morocco Sees Fivefold Increase in Russian Tourists for Summer 2025
Morocco Sees Fivefold Increase in Russian Tourists for Summer 2025

Morocco World

time19-05-2025

  • Morocco World

Morocco Sees Fivefold Increase in Russian Tourists for Summer 2025

Doha – Russian interest in Moroccan travel has surged dramatically for the upcoming summer season. According to analytics from travel planning service OneTwoTrip, Morocco showed the most notable increase in demand, with five times more travelers planning to visit this summer compared to 2024. Morocco now accounts for 0.5% of all foreign bookings by Russian tourists. This growth places the North African country ahead of other destinations gaining popularity among Russian travelers. Abkhazia follows with a threefold increase, representing 0.7% of bookings. Spain (9.1% of bookings), Hungary (2.3%), and Kazakhstan (2.2%) have all seen their numbers double. Other African countries are also seeing increased interest from Russian tourists. Egypt's share grew by 75%, while South Africa saw a 57% increase. European destinations like France (+75%) and Italy (+50%) are gaining popularity as well. Russian travelers are also increasingly interested in Vietnam (+45%), Uzbekistan (+44%), Armenia (+15%), and China (+11%). This unprecedented upswing in Russian tourism comes as Morocco experiences an exceptional growth in overall visitor numbers. In the first four months of 2025, Morocco welcomed 5.7 million tourists, representing a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This translates to one million additional tourists in just four months. April alone saw 1.7 million arrivals, up 27% from April 2024, showing Morocco's appeal now extends beyond traditional peak seasons. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor stressed the significance of these figures: 'One million additional visitors in what is typically a quieter start to the year is a strong signal for the remainder of 2025.' She credited these results to the tourism roadmap launched by the government under King Mohammed VI's leadership. The growth builds on Morocco's record-breaking 2024, when it attracted 17.4 million tourists, surpassing Egypt to become Africa's most-visited destination. Egypt received 15.7 million visitors in 2024, setting its own record but losing the continental top spot. Morocco's tourism revenue reached $11 billion in 2024, up from $10.5 billion the year before. Morocco's 2024 numbers represent a 20% increase from 2023 and more than 33% growth compared to pre-pandemic 2019 figures, when the country hosted 13 million tourists. This remarkable leap puts Morocco two years ahead of its tourism projections. Tourism Minister Ammor has expressed ambitions to position Morocco among the top 15 global tourist destinations. Key factors driving this growth include the introduction of 120 new airline routes in 2024 and new luxury hotels from brands like Four Seasons and Nobu. Morocco has also capitalized on its national football team's success, which made history as the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022. The country now prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations from December 2025 to January 2026. By 2030, when Morocco is set to co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the country aims to welcome 26 million tourists annually—50% more than current figures. Read also: Morocco Earns MAD 24.6 Billion from Tourism in First Three Months of 2025

Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea, Killing Six and Injuring 29
Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea, Killing Six and Injuring 29

Morocco World

time28-03-2025

  • Morocco World

Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea, Killing Six and Injuring 29

A tragic accident struck the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada on Thursday morning when a tourist submarine sank, claiming the lives of six tourists, including two children. Reports state that 29 people were injured, with some stating that four were in a critical condition. According to the Egyptian authorities, the vessel was carrying approximately 45 tourists and five Egyptian crew members at the time of the incident. The rescue teams reportedly managed to rescue 39 people, with the wounded individuals being rushed to local hospitals for treatment. The Russian consulate in Hurghada declared that all 45 passengers were Russian nationals, however, Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafy said that the group also includes citizens of India, Norway, and Sweden. Hanafy visited the site of the sinking and announced the launch of a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of this calamity. He emphasized that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that all necessary medical care is provided to the wounded. Egypt's Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, reportedly directed officials to provide urgent medical assistance and ordered a technical review of the incident, including an inspection of the submarine's maintenance records. The submarine, named 'Sindbad,' was on an underwater tour exploring coral reefs when it suddenly went down off the coast of Hurghada, a famous diving destination and the capital of the Red Sea Governorate, Southeast Egypt. Earlier in November, a luxury Yacht capsized in the Red Sea, leading to the death of four people, while 33 were rescued. No issues were declared after inspection, and Hanafi later declared that a large wave caused the boat to capsize. As a premier tourist destination, this sector plays a vital role in sustaining Egypt's economy, with the country achieving a record-breaking revenue of $14 billion in 2024. Tags: red seaSubmarineTourism Egypt

Egyptian Billionaire Samih Sawiris Takes Over $400 Million Tourism Project in Morocco
Egyptian Billionaire Samih Sawiris Takes Over $400 Million Tourism Project in Morocco

Morocco World

time06-12-2024

  • Morocco World

Egyptian Billionaire Samih Sawiris Takes Over $400 Million Tourism Project in Morocco

Rabat - Egyptian billionaire Samih Sawiris is leading a group of investors in a plan to develop a large tourism project on Morocco's Atlantic coast. The investment will include hotels, resorts, and other tourist attractions, aiming to boost the country's tourism industry. The consortium, which includes Sawiris' company Orascom Investment, the UAE-based Al Nowais, and Eastern Investment Ltd, has submitted a proposal to Morocco's Competition Council. The plan involves acquiring full ownership of the Moroccan company SAEMOG, which oversees the Essaouira Mogador station, a key coastal tourism development project. The Competition Council published a press release announcing the deal and the complete purchase of SAEMOG' capital and voting rights by the group of companies. The purchase is made through Orascom Investments LLC, a UAE-based company established specifically for this transaction, the statement added. The council invited concerned parties to submit their feedback on the deal within 10 days, by December 19, to ensure the transaction complies with Morocco's competition laws. The project, valued at over MAD 4 billion, includes renovating an existing hotel, building three beachfront hotels, and developing a shopping and entertainment area in Mogador village. In addition, residential projects will be constructed, creating around 4,000 jobs. The Sawiris family has shown strong interest in investing in Morocco. Earlier this year, Naguib Sawiris, Samih's brother, expressed willingness to invest up to $100 million in Morocco, mentioning potential projects like electric vehicle battery plants and charging stations, Asharq Business reported. Tourism is a vital sector in Morocco that contributes significantly to its economy. The country is taking strategic steps to expand and modernize its tourism industry, especially as it prepares to host major international events such as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal. These events are expected to attract millions of visitors. Among Morocco's standout destinations is Essaouira, a coastal city known for its historic medina, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Essaouira is increasingly popular with international tourists.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store