BBC News
BBCEgyptian authorities have questioned the crew of a tourist submarine which sank in the Red Sea killing six of the 45 passengers on board.
The 39 other passengers, and five crew were rescued on Thursday after the Sindbad vessel foundered at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), officials say. Nine people have been injured, including four critically.
The group had been on board the sightseeing vessel, viewing coral reefs off the resort town of Hurghada.
Two children were among the six Russian tourists killed, Russian media reported. The cause of the incident is as yet unclear.
The Sindbad had been in operation as a tourist submarine for a number of years.
The Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafy, said the 45 passengers on the Sindbad were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crew members were also on board.
Mr Hanafy said the six who died were all Russian, but full details of the victims have not yet been released.
Two married doctors were among those who had died and their daughters were in hospital, authorities said.
Mr Hanafy said the submarine involved had a valid licence and the crew leader obtained the correct “scientific certificates”.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia said in a Telegram post the submarine had hit a reef and subsequently lost pressure while at a depth of 20 metres (65 feet).
Russian tourists play a growing role in Egypt’s tourism sector – a lifeline to the country’s ailing economy.
The city of Hurghada is located to the south-east of Cairo – a tourist destination known for its beaches and coral reefs.
The submarine was equipped with large portholes to let passengers see the Red Sea’s spectacular corals and marine life, and was able to descend to a depth of 25 metres (82 feet), according to Sindbad Submarines’ website.
Dr James Aldridge from Bristol took the same trip on the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC: “The sub was well-maintained and was as shown in the promotional photos.
“Fresh paint, modern equipment and with attentive and professional English-speaking staff (including two divers to accompany you down).”
He explained passengers listened to a safety briefing, which had been recorded in multiple languages, and said that life jackets were not issued.
“We toured the reef for 40 minutes. For the first 20 I was facing the reef, the sub never strayed ‘too close’ and I never felt unsafe.
“For the return trip, I was facing the ocean,” he added.
It’s the second incident in the Red Sea in around six months.
Last November, a boat named Sea Story carrying more than 40 people also sank near the Egyptian resort of Marsa Allam, with 11 people unaccounted, or presumed dead.
Reasons behind this latest tragedy are not clear yet. But the frequency of such incidents raise big questions about safety measures employed by local authorities, in such popular tourist sea excursion areas, and whether or not proper safety checks are being carried out.
