At least six people have d!ed after a submarine carrying 44 tourists sank off the coast of Egypt.
The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying around 44 international passengers, including children, at the time of the sinking, which took place off the marina of the Sindbad Club Hotel.
Rescue services have so far managed to save 29 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate.
Egyptian officials have said at least six are de@d while Moscow’s embassy in Cairo says all passengers were Russian with four of its citizens among the deceased.
According to Russian media, the de@th toll may be as high as nine with unconfirmed reports claiming that the vessel collided with a reef and ‘depressurised’ at 65ft which caused it to sink.
Some 21 ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the incident, and have been transporting the injured to local hospitals including Al-Kawthar, due to the severity of their conditions.
Reports have claimed the passengers are ‘of different nationalities’ but in a post to Facebook, the Russian embassy in Egypt said that all of the tourists were Russian.
The post read: ‘On March 27, around 10:00, at a distance of 1 km from the shore, an accident of the submersible ‘Sindbad’, belonging to the hotel of the same name occurred.
‘The submersible carried out a regular underwater excursions with inspection of the coral reef.
‘In addition to crew members, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors. All of them are Russian citizens, tourists of the company ‘Biblio Globus’ (the host tour company in Egypt – ‘Biblio globus Egypt Tours’).
‘According to initial data, most of the passengers on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada.
‘Their health is not a cause for concern. Four people have been killed. The fate of several tourists is being determined.
‘Diplomats of the General Consulate are on the pier of the ‘Sindbad’ hotel’.
The submarine had embarked off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area, Egyptian officials who did not want to be named, told AP.
The passengers had been out on a sea trip to see Egypt’s coral reefs and tropical fish before the vessel, which can dive to depths of up to 72ft, sank.
The submarine has been operating tourist trips in Hurghada for several years.
According to the operator, Sharm Hurghada Excursions, the underwater tour is three-hours long and costs £68 per adult ticket, and £35 for children.
The company boasts its excursions allow visitors to admire Hurghada’s underwater life and extensive coral reef, enjoy a diving experience while staying dry, and see life underwater at a depth of 72ft.
It also claims it holds two of the only ’14 real recreational submarines’ in the world.
The website for Sindbad Submarines continues: ‘It offers 44 passenger seats – two pilots’ seats and a sizable round viewing window for each passenger.’
