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Nahar Net
27-03-2025
- Nahar Net
Six dead in sinking of Egypt tourist submarine
by Naharnet Newsdesk 27 March 2025, 17:52 Six people died on Thursday, two of them minors, when a tourist submarine carrying dozens of Russian visitors sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast near a major resort town. Egyptian state media put the toll at six, while Russian state news agencies quoted General Consul Viktor Voropaev as saying that five people were confirmed dead, two of them minors. Russia's consulate in the tourist hub of Hurghada earlier said the vessel was carrying "45 tourists, including minors" on an underwater excursion to observe coral reefs when it "crashed 1 kilometer from the shore" at about 10:00 am local time (0800 GMT). "According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," the consulate said, adding that diplomats had been dispatched to the pier. The website of state-owned Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper gave the toll of six dead and said 29 people were rescued, nine of them wounded. Russian state news agency Ria Novosti, quoting an Egyptian emergency services source, reported the death of "five foreigners and one Egyptian". Local authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The website of Sindbad Submarines, the vessel's owner according to the Russian consulate, said the vessel could carry 44 passengers to up to 25 meters (27 yards) depth. The Egyptian newspaper reported investigations were underway to determine what caused the accident. - Deadly accidents - Hurghada, a resort about 460 kilometers (280 miles) 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.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- BBC News
Egypt submarine sinking: What we know so far
Six people have died after a tourist submarine sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, a local governor has 39 others who were rescued, nine were said to have been injured with four in critical condition after the incident early on Thursday near the city of total, 45 passengers were thought to have been on-board the submarine, called Sindbad, when it sank close to the harbour. Here's what we know so far. Who was on board? The Red Sea area governor, Amr Hanafy, said six tourists died and 39 further people were rescued after the submarine sank. No people are missing, and it is not known how many of those on board were tourists and how many were crew.A Russian official in Hurghada, Viktor Voropaev, said that two of those killed were came after an earlier statement from the Russian embassy in Egypt, which said all of the tourists on board were Russian. What was the submarine doing? The submarine, Sindbad, had been in operation as a tourist submarine for a number of to the company running the tourist trips - Sindbad Submarines - its vessels take passengers on journeys to explore coral reefs near the Hurghada company says it holds two of the only "14 real recreational submarines" in the world, which hold 44 seats for passengers and two seats for are designed for both adults and children, the company's website says, and allow passengers to travel 25 metres (82 feet) underwater. Where did the submarine sink? The submarine sank off the coast of the Egyptian Red Sea city of Hurghada, the BBC is believed the incident took place in the harbour. The Russian embassy said it happened around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), around 0.6 miles (1km) from the is a popular tourist destination, with its coastline known for its beaches and coral reefs. A number of tourist trip companies operate out of its recent years, there have been other incidents involving Red Sea tourist boats operating out of the November, a tourist boat called the Sea Story sank, leaving 11 dead or missing - including a British couple - and 35 survivors. The BBC later heard accusations of safety failings on investigators said last month there had been 16 incidents involving "liveaboard" vessels in the area in the last five years, with a number resulting in deaths. How did the submarine sink? Authorities in Egypt are investigating the cause of the incident, and details are currently unclear. There continues to be a lot of activity from other boats around the harbour near where the submarine appeared that the weather was quite calm with no sign of any rough waters.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Six dead in sinking of Egypt tourist submarine
Six people died on Thursday, two of them minors, when a tourist submarine carrying dozens of Russian visitors sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast near a major resort town. Egyptian state media put the toll at six, while Russian state news agencies quoted General Consul Viktor Voropaev as saying that five people were confirmed dead, two of them minors. Russia's consulate in the tourist hub of Hurghada earlier said the vessel was carrying "45 tourists, including minors" on an underwater excursion to observe coral reefs when it "crashed 1 kilometre from the shore" at about 10:00 am local time (0800 GMT). "According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," the consulate said, adding that diplomats had been dispatched to the pier. The website of state-owned Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper gave the toll of six dead and said 29 people were rescued, nine of them wounded. Russian state news agency Ria Novosti, quoting an Egyptian emergency services source, reported the death of "five foreigners and one Egyptian". Local authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The website of Sindbad Submarines, the vessel's owner according to the Russian consulate, said the vessel could carry 44 passengers to up to 25 metres (27 yards) depth. The Egyptian newspaper reported investigations were underway to determine what caused the accident. - Deadly accidents - Hurghada, a resort about 460 kilometres (280 miles) 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. bha/ser
