Latest news with #AssociationofTourOperatorsofRussia
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crew involved in deadly tourist submarine incident in Red Sea questioned by authorities
March 28 (UPI) -- The local crew of a recreational submarine that sank off the Egyptian Red Sea coast killing six Russian tourists and injuring nine other passengers have been questioned by authorities in Egypt amid an ongoing investigation into the tragedy. The 45 tourists departed the beach resort of Hurghada aboard the purpose-built submarine with a crew of five mid-morning Thursday for a sightseeing tour of coral reefs in the waters off the popular beach resort but the vessel got into difficulties about a half mile out. Two children and a married couple, both doctors, were among the six Russians killed. The BBC reported that the daughters of the couple were hospitalized after 39 other passengers and the five crew were rescued. Four of those injured remain in intensive care in area hospitals in critical condition. There was confusion over the injured with the Russian Embassy in Cairo saying seven Russian citizens, of whom five are minors, were being treated for non life-threatening injuries. The nationalities of the other two people hurt have not been released but Red Sea governor Amr Hanafy said that nationals from India, Norway and Sweden were also on board. The cause of the incident is under investigation but the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said the submarine collided with a reef while at a depth of 65 feet, causing an unrecoverable decompression. Hanafy said the vessel, owned and operated by Hurghada-based Sindbad Submarines, was licensed and the commander had the required qualifications from the Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. The two doctors killed were named as anesthesiologist Ravil Valiullin and his wife Kristina from the Republic of Tatarstan, 600 miles east of Moscow. However, Tatarstan press spokesperson Liliya Galimova stressed it would take time to complete formal identification, warning that it remained unclear if Mrs. Valiullin had in fact been killed. "We rely on information that comes directly from the scene, from Egypt. As we can see, the information there is constantly changing. Time is needed. We will wait for clarification," she told Russian media. Briton, Dr. James Aldridge said that when he took a Sindbad reef tour in February it appeared to be a well-run, professional operation and that passengers received a pre-recorded multi-lingual safety briefing before embarking. "Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English-speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you down)," he said. However, he did note that life jackets were not provided. Thursday's accident has thrown a renewed spotlight on the safety record of operators of recreational vessels in the Red Sea serving thousands of mainly scuba divers who flock there every year, many of them joining so-called "liveaboard" dive boats plying its waters. In November, as many as 11 people were killed and seven are missing, presumed dead after a dive boat capsized south of Hurghada and three British divers were killed in June 2023 in a fire aboard the MV Hurricane, a liveaboard belonging to Sharm El-Shiekh-based Tornado Marine Fleet, while anchored at the popular Elphinstone Reef.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Crew questioned after Red Sea submarine sinks killing six
Egyptian authorities have questioned the crew of a tourist submarine which sank in the Red Sea killing six of the 45 passengers on board. The 39 other passengers, and five crew were rescued on Thursday after the Sindbad vessel foundered at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), officials say. Nine people have been injured, including four critically. The group had been on board the sightseeing vessel, viewing coral reefs off the resort town of Hurghada. Two children were among the six Russian tourists killed, Russian media reported. The cause of the incident is as yet unclear. The Sindbad had been in operation as a tourist submarine for a number of years. The Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafy, said the 45 passengers on the Sindbad were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on board. Mr Hanafy said the six who died were all Russian, but full details of the victims have not yet been released. Egypt submarine sinking: What we know so far Two married doctors were among those who had died and their daughters were in hospital, authorities said. Mr Hanafy said the submarine involved had a valid licence and the crew leader obtained the correct "scientific certificates". An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia said in a Telegram post the submarine had hit a reef and subsequently lost pressure while at a depth of 20 metres (65 feet). Russian tourists play a growing role in Egypt's tourism sector - a lifeline to the country's ailing economy. The city of Hurghada is located to the south-east of Cairo - a tourist destination known for its beaches and coral reefs. The submarine was equipped with large portholes to let passengers see the Red Sea's spectacular corals and marine life, and was able to descend to a depth of 25 metres (82 feet), according to Sindbad Submarines' website. Dr James Aldridge from Bristol took the same trip on the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC: "The sub was well-maintained and was as shown in the promotional photos. "Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English-speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you down)." He explained passengers listened to a safety briefing, which had been recorded in multiple languages, and said that life jackets were not issued. "We toured the reef for 40 minutes. For the first 20 I was facing the reef, the sub never strayed 'too close' and I never felt unsafe. "For the return trip, I was facing the ocean," he added. It's the second incident in the Red Sea in around six months. Last November, a boat named Sea Story carrying more than 40 people also sank near the Egyptian resort of Marsa Allam, with 11 people unaccounted, or presumed dead. Reasons behind this latest tragedy are not clear yet. But the frequency of such incidents raise big questions about safety measures employed by local authorities, in such popular tourist sea excursion areas, and whether or not proper safety checks are being carried out.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- BBC News
Egypt submarine sinking: Crew questioned after six tourists killed
Egyptian authorities have questioned the crew of a tourist submarine which sank in the Red Sea killing six of the 45 passengers on 39 other passengers, and five crew were rescued on Thursday after the Sindbad vessel foundered at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), officials say. Nine people have been injured, including four group had been on board the sightseeing vessel, viewing coral reefs off the resort town of children were among the six Russian tourists killed, Russian media reported. The cause of the incident is as yet unclear. The Sindbad had been in operation as a tourist submarine for a number of Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafy, said the 45 passengers on the Sindbad were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on Hanafy said the six who died were all Russian, but full details of the victims have not yet been released. Egypt submarine sinking: What we know so far Two married doctors were among those who had died and their daughters were in hospital, authorities Hanafy said the submarine involved had a valid licence and the crew leader obtained the correct "scientific certificates".An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia said in a Telegram post the submarine had hit a reef and subsequently lost pressure while at a depth of 20 metres (65 feet).Russian tourists play a growing role in Egypt's tourism sector - a lifeline to the country's ailing economy. The city of Hurghada is located to the south-east of Cairo - a tourist destination known for its beaches and coral submarine was equipped with large portholes to let passengers see the Red Sea's spectacular corals and marine life, and was able to descend to a depth of 25 metres (82 feet), according to Sindbad Submarines' James Aldridge from Bristol took the same trip on the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC: "The sub was well-maintained and was as shown in the promotional photos."Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English-speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you down)."He explained passengers listened to a safety briefing, which had been recorded in multiple languages, and said that life jackets were not issued."We toured the reef for 40 minutes. For the first 20 I was facing the reef, the sub never strayed 'too close' and I never felt unsafe. "For the return trip, I was facing the ocean," he added. It's the second incident in the Red Sea in around six November, a boat named Sea Story carrying more than 40 people also sank near the Egyptian resort of Marsa Allam, with 11 people unaccounted, or presumed behind this latest tragedy are not clear yet. But the frequency of such incidents raise big questions about safety measures employed by local authorities, in such popular tourist sea excursion areas, and whether or not proper safety checks are being carried out.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Six dead after tourist submarine sinks in Red Sea
Six people have died after a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea. Local officials say 39 others were rescued after the vessel sank at around 10:00 local time. Unconfirmed reports suggested the vessel hit a reef and lost pressure. Two married doctors are among those who have died and their daughters remain in hospital, authorities said. A Russian official said that two others who died were children, according to Tass, Russia's state-owned news agency. This is the second incident involving a tourist vessel in the Red Sea in recent months. In November, a boat capsized near Marsa Allam, which left 11 people missing, presumed dead. The Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafy, said passengers on the "Sindbad" were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on board. Mr Hanafy said the six who died were all Russian, but full details of the victims have not yet been released. An investigation into the incident is ongoing but the Association of Tour Operators of Russia cited in a Telegram post unconfirmed reports that the submarine hit a reef and subsequently lost pressure while at a depth of 20 metres (65 feet). The city of Hurghada is located to the south-east of Cairo - a tourist destination which is known both for its beaches and coral reefs. Dr James Aldridge from Bristol took the same trip on the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC: "The sub was well-maintained and was as shown in the promotional photos. "Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English-speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you down)." He explained passengers listened to a safety briefing, which had been recorded in multiple languages, and said that life jackets were not issued. "We toured the reef for 40 minutes. For the first 20 I was facing the reef, the sub never strayed 'too close' and I never felt unsafe. For the return trip, I was facing the ocean," he added. Five survivors found day after Red Sea tourist boat sinking Family 'desperate' as Britons missing after sinking
BBC News
27-03-2025
- BBC News
Six people dead after tourist submarine sinks in Egypt
Six people have died after a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red officials say 39 others were rescued after the vessel sank at around 10:00 local time. Unconfirmed reports suggested the vessel hit a reef and lost married doctors are among those who have died and their daughters remain in hospital, authorities said. A Russian official said that two others who died were children, according to Tass, Russia's state-owned news is the second incident involving a tourist vessel in the Red Sea in recent months. In November, a boat capsized near Marsa Allam, which left 11 people missing, presumed dead. The Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafy, said passengers on the "Sindbad" were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on Hanafy said the six who died were all Russian, but full details of the victims have not yet been investigation into the incident is ongoing but the Association of Tour Operators of Russia cited in a Telegram post unconfirmed reports that the submarine hit a reef and subsequently lost pressure while at a depth of 20 metres (65 feet). The city of Hurghada is located to the south-east of Cairo - a tourist destination which is known both for its beaches and coral James Aldridge from Bristol took the same trip on the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC: "The sub was well-maintained and was as shown in the promotional photos."Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English-speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you down)."He explained passengers listened to a safety briefing, which had been recorded in multiple languages, and said that life jackets were not issued."We toured the reef for 40 minutes. For the first 20 I was facing the reef, the sub never strayed 'too close' and I never felt unsafe. For the return trip, I was facing the ocean," he added.
