Six dead after submarine sinks off Egypt’s coast
Nevit Dilmen
Six Russian tourists have died, and another 39 passengers were injured after a tourist submarine sank of the coast of the Egyptian city of Hurghanada.
As reported by BBC News, the submarine known as the Sindbad, sank around 10:00 local time(08:00 GMT) on March 27 while navigating near coral reefs.
According to a statement from Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi, the 45 people on board included Russian, Norwegian, Swedish, and Indian tourists, along with five Egyptian crew members.
Among the deceased are at least two children and married couple who were both doctors, authorities confirmed.
Of the 39 survivors, at least nine sustained injuries, with four in critical condition.
The exact cause of the sinking remains unclear, but Russian news sources suggest that the submarine may have accidently struck a coral reef at a depth of around 20 metres.
Another theory is that there may have been a technical failure on board. However, many who previously been in the Sindbad have described it as a well-maintained and modern vessel.
Dr. James Aldridge from Bristol, who took a trip on the submarine in February 2025 described it as” well-maintained” with a whole host of “modern equipment”. He also noted that while the vessel often navigated near reefs, it would “never go tool close”.
This latest tragedy adds to growing concerns over the safety if commercial tourist submarines and maritime vessels.
In November 2024, a tourist boat capsized near Marsa Alam, resulting in the deaths of 11 people.
With incidents like these becoming more frequent, experts and authorities may begin revaluating safety regulation surrounding tourist submarine operations in the region.
BBC News
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