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 report that 39 others were rescued. The vessel sank around 10:00 AM local time. Unconfirmed reports suggest it hit a reef and lost pressure.

Among the deceased are two married doctors. Their daughters remain hospitalized, according to authorities. A Russian official stated that two of the deceased were children, as reported by Tass.

This incident is the second involving a tourist vessel in recent months. In November, a boat capsized near Marsa Allam, leaving 11 people missing and presumed dead.

Red Sea governor Amr Hanafy said passengers on the "Sindbad" included people from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on board.

Mr. Hanafy confirmed that all six deceased individuals were Russian. However, full details of the victims have not yet been released.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia shared unconfirmed reports via Telegram. They stated that the submarine hit a reef and lost pressure at a depth of 20 meters (65 feet).

Hurghada is located southeast of Cairo and is known for its beaches and coral reefs.

Dr. James Aldridge from Bristol took the same submarine trip in February 2025. He told the BBC that the sub was well-maintained and matched promotional photos.

He described it as having fresh paint, modern equipment, and attentive staff who spoke English. Two divers accompanied passengers during their descent.

Dr. Aldridge mentioned that passengers received a safety briefing in multiple languages but did not receive life jackets. He felt safe during his tour of the reef for 40 minutes while facing both the reef and ocean on different legs of the journey.