Latest news with #SindbadSubmarines
Al Jazeera
31-03-2025
- Al Jazeera
Six killed in tourist submarine sinking off Egypt: What we know
A tourist submarine sank on Thursday during a routine underwater sightseeing tour off the coast of Hurghada, a popular Red Sea resort city in Egypt, killing at least six Russian nationals on board. The vessel, owned by a private tourism company, Sindbad Submarines, was designed to take tourists underwater to view coral reefs and marine life – a major attraction in the area. Here's what we know about what happened, about those on board – and why the submarine might have sunk. Neither Egyptian nor Russian officials have attributed any specific reason for the vessel's sinking, and investigations are continuing. But the Association of Tour Operators in Russia posted on Telegram that the submarine had struck a reef about 20 metres (65 feet) below the surface of the sea and then began to lose pressure. Water pushes from high-pressure to low-pressure regions, so if the inside of the vessel lost pressure, the likelihood of the seawater flooding in would have risen. Despite crew efforts to surface and evacuate passengers, the vessel quickly sank at about 10am (08:00 GMT).According to authorities, the vessel sank approximately 1km (0.6 miles) off the shore of Hurghada, Egypt. Hurghada lies about 480km (300 miles) southeast of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The Red Sea is a major hub for Egypt's tourism industry – in turn a vital pillar of the country's economy. Russian tourists make up a growing portion of visitors. According to Egyptian statistics, about 380,000 Russian tourists visited Hurghada between January and August 2024. However, Egypt's Red Sea resort towns have also witnessed boating accidents in recent years. In June 2024, two dozen French tourists were rescued after their boat capsized near Marsa Alam, another popular destination. Five months later, in November, 30 people were rescued from a sinking boat near Daedalus Reef, about 90km (56 miles) from Marsa Alam. The Sindbad vessel was carrying 50 people – 45 tourists and 5 Egyptian crew members – at the time of the incident, Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said in a statement. Russia's consulate in Hurghada also confirmed the submarine was carrying 45 tourists. Among the tourists were nationals from Russia, Norway, Sweden and India. Six people died, including four adults and two children, all of whom were identified as Russian nationals by Hanafi. Authorities have not released all of their names pending notification of relatives, but Russian media confirmed that the victims included members of the same family who had been holidaying in Egypt. Egyptian officials suggested a married doctor couple were also among those who died. All of the remaining 39 tourists and five crew members have been rescued – no one is missing. But among them, 29 individuals sustained injuries. While most injuries were categorised as nonlife-threatening, such as bruises, cuts, and mild hypothermia, four individuals remain in critical condition and are in the intensive care unit, according to Hanafi. The Sindbad submarine had operated as a tourist attraction for several years. According to the company, it was 'one of only 14 real recreational submarines worldwide and the only one in Africa and the Arab world'. The submarines are engineered in Finland to sustain underwater pressure up to 75 metres (246 feet). 'In an emergency, oxygen masks are located overhead and life vests under the seats,' the website reads. Designed for both adults and children, the tours allow passengers to descend to depths of 25 metres (82 feet) for a 40-minute underwater journey. The company highlights its more than 25 years of experience in marine tourism. According to survivors, water flooded the vessel and passengers scrambled to reach the surface. Elena Boldareva said the submarine began to dive with hatches open, according to the UK's Daily Mirror newspaper. People saved themselves as best they could, Boldareva said, adding: 'Some managed to swim out, some didn't.' Boldareva and her husband managed to swim out, but her daughter and mother were taken to hospital in serious condition. They were among the dozens transferred to Hurghada General Hospital for treatment and further observation. Egyptian authorities responded quickly to the incident, launching an emergency search and rescue operation led by the Red Sea governorate and the Egyptian coastguard. Divers were dispatched to the site within the hour, and several boats assisted in bringing survivors to shore. Hanafi said the submarine had all the required licences and had passed technical inspections, and that investigations with crew members were under way to determine the cause of the sinking. Sindbad Submarines is part of a rapidly expanding underwater tourism industry across the world. The industry, which focuses on scuba diving and undersea reef exploration – including in submarines and submersibles – was estimated to be worth $36bn in 2017 and is believed to have only grown since then. A series of companies today advertise underwater tours in submarines and submersibles – underwater vessels that need a larger platform to transport them. But some experts have warned that regulations for the industry are struggling to keep up with its growth. In June 2023, the Titan, a privately owned submersible, went missing off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, with five people on board. They included four tourists and the founder of OceanGate, the company that owned the vessel. Debris from the submersible was found four days later, and investigators concluded that the vessel had imploded, killing all five passengers. The incident has raised concerns about tourism safety standards in Egypt, especially for popular Red Sea excursions like diving, snorkelling and underwater tours. Many tourist companies have either halted or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region. Sindbad Submarines, which operates two tourist submarines out of Hurghada, has not yet made a statement on the incident. The website was temporarily down but appears to be up and running again.
Al-Ahram Weekly
29-03-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Six dead, 23 injured after Sindbad tourist submarine sinks near Hurghada - Tourism
The submarine was carrying 50 people, including five Egyptian crew members and 45 foreign tourists from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden. The six fatalities were identified as Russian nationals. Earlier reports suggested that nine people had been injured in the incident. The vessel was operated by Sindbad Submarines, a company that has provided underwater excursions in the Hurghada region for several years.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Entire Crew Escaped Submarine During Sinking That Killed Multiple Children
In Egypt's Red Sea, a crew on a sightseeing submarine tour managed to escape when the vessel began sinking — even though some of the tourists on board were not so lucky. As the BBC reports, authorities are questioning the crew of the Sindbad submarine after it foundered during a coral reef tour near the beach town of Hurghada in southeastern Egypt. Of the 45 passengers on board the vessel, six tourists — including two children — died during the sinking, and nine more were injured. When authorities came to rescue the sinking sub, 39 people and five crew members were saved, the report notes. Two of the tourists who died were a married couple of doctors, and their daughters, devastatingly, are in the hospital in critical condition. According to statements from Red Sea governor Amr Hanafy, the Sindbad's crew were all Egyptian and its passengers hailed from India, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. Somehow, only Russians died during the incident, and it remains unclear what happened. Unlike the Oceangate debacle from nearly two years ago, the Sindbad Submarines company seemingly had a strong reputation, and had been in operation in the Red Sea resort town for years. According to Hanafy, the sub was licensed and its head crew member had gotten all the right certificates to operate it — which makes the tragic incident all the stranger. Tragically, this is not the first maritime tragedy to strike the Red Sea in recent months. In late November, the BBC notes, the "Sea Story" tourist yacht capsized with more than 40 people on board while sailing near the resort town of Marsa Alam located about 200 miles up the coast from Hurghada. As Dive Magazine noted, it took 36 hours to rescue the yacht's surviving passengers, and four bodies were pulled from the wrecked yacht. Seven are still missing, and presumed dead. Between the orca attacks and the headlines about ships and subs sinking, it's a wonder that anyone who doesn't have to is taking to the sea — but then again, flying's not much better lately, either. More on seafaring: Dolphins Appear as Astronauts Splash Down in Ocean
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Six Russian tourists killed after submarine sinks off Egyptian coast
Six Russian tourists were killed on Thursday after a viewing submarine sank near the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada, according to the local governor. Maj. Gen. Amr Hanafy confirmed the deaths in an update on the Red Sea Governorate's official Facebook page. He said there were 45 passengers – including tourists from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden – onboard when the accident occurred, in addition to five Egyptian crew members. Apart from the six Russians, all the other tourists had been rescued, he said. Hanafy added that four of the tourists were in critical condition and currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at local hospitals. The incident – involving a vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines – took place in the waters off Egypt's eastern coastline on Thursday morning. The submarine 'crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore' at around 10 a.m., according to the Russian consulate in Hurghada. The vessel was on a regular underwater excursion to inspect the coral reef, it continued, adding that most of those on board were rescued and taken to nearby hotels and hospitals. The governor said 'investigations by the authorities are underway with the vessel's crew to determine the cause of the incident,' but he noted that the submarine held a valid operating license and the crew leader held the required 'scientific certificates.' In an accompanying video, Hanafy could be seen visiting nearby hospitals and talking with survivors, some of whom were wrapped in emergency blankets while others sat on hospital beds. Hurghada is a popular resort on Egypt's Red Sea coast, roughly 480 kilometers (300 miles) southeast of Cairo. The company that runs the submarine tours claims to be well-established in exploring the region's dramatic seabed. Thursday's forecast showed clear skies, light winds, and warm conditions. The temperature was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with winds under 10 kph, according to CNN meteorologists. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for comment. The operator of the submarine has an 'expert team' with 'years of experience,' according to its website, adding that its vessels were 'engineered in Finland to sustain underwater pressure up to 75m, ensuring safety and reliability.' In an emergency, the company says 'oxygen masks are located overhead and life vests under the seats.' Sindbad Submarines says it has two 'recreational submarines' in its fleet, each of which could carry 44 passengers and two pilots with a 'sizable round viewing window' for each passenger. The vessel could reach a depth of 25 meters (82 ft) below sea level for 40 minutes, allowing passengers to explore '500 meters of coral reef and its marine inhabitant.' The 'spacious air-conditioned cabin' is also said to feature 'comfortable seats and personal TV monitors.' In November, at least 16 people went missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas. At the time, it was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. Egypt's tourism economy is among its key sources of revenue. This story has been updated with developments. CNN's Mounira Elsamra contributed reporting to this story.
Jordan Times
28-03-2025
- Jordan Times
Six dead in sinking of Egyptian tourist sub carrying Russians
Boats sail off the resort town of Hurghada on Egypt's Red Sea coast after a submarine carrying dozens of passengers sank on March 27, 2025 (AFP photo) CAIRO — Six people died on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast, state media reported, with Russia's consulate saying 45 Russian citizens were aboard. Russia's consulate in Hurghada, a town popular with tourists from the country, said the vessel was carrying "45 tourists, including minors", and that four people had died. "According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," the consulate said. The website of state-owned Akhbar Al Youm newspaper gave the toll of six dead and said 19 others were injured. Russian state news agency Ria Novosti, quoting an Egyptian emergency services source, reported the death of "five foreigners and one Egyptian". The website of Sindbad Submarines, the vessel owner according to Akhbar AlYoum, said the vessel could carry 44 passengers to up to 25 metres (mdepth. The Egyptian newspaper reported investigations were underway to determine what caused the accident. Hurghada, a tourist city about 460 kilometres southeast of the Egyptian capital Cairo, is a major destination for visitors to Egypt, with its airport receiving more than nine million passengers last year, according to state media. Thursday's forecast in the city was clear, with above average winds reported but optimum visibility underwater. While dozens of tourist boats sail through the coastal area daily for snorkeling and diving activities, Sindbad Submarines says it deploys the region's "only real" recreational submarine. The vessel has been operational in the area for multiple years, according to a source familiar with the company. The Red Sea coral reefs and islands off Egypt's eastern coast are major draws, contributing to the country's vital tourism sector which employs two million people and generates more than 10 percent of GDP. The area has been the site of several deadly accidents in recent years. In November, a dive boat capsized off the coast of Marsa Alam, south of Hurghada, leaving four dead and seven missing. Thirty people were rescued from another sinking boat, while last June two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated before their boat sank in a similar accident. In 2023, three British tourists died after a fire broke out on their yacht, engulfing their vessel in flames.
