A tourist submarine has sunk off the coast of the popular Red Sea city of Hurghada, resulting in at least six fatalities and nine injuries, local officials confirmed on Thursday.
Emergency services successfully rescued 29 individuals following the incident, according to a statement from the Red Sea governorate. The submarine, which was conducting a routine tourist trip, operated off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area and had approximately 45 passengers on board.
While the exact cause of the submarine’s sinking remains unclear, the Russian embassy in Egypt reported that all the tourists on board were Russian nationals, including children. Initially, there were conflicting reports regarding the nationalities of those on the submarine.
Hurghada is renowned as a top tourist destination, situated about 285 miles (460 kilometers) southeast of Cairo. The city is famous for its vibrant coral reefs and rich aquatic life, attracting tourists from around the globe. Egypt’s tourism sector is crucial to the economy, employing approximately two million people and accounting for 10% of the nation’s GDP.
However, many companies have either halted or restricted travel on the Red Sea due to rising safety concerns linked to regional conflicts.
Accidents along the Red Sea coast are not uncommon. In November, a tourist yacht sank after warnings of rough waters, resulting in at least four drownings, while 33 individuals were rescued.
Source : DW
