Tourist submarine sinks in Egypt, killing six and injuring nine
A tourist submarine has sunk off the coast of Egypt’s Hurghada, killing six people and injuring a further nine.
It was unclear what caused the submersible, operated by the company Sindbad Submarines, which had been carrying 45 tourists and crew, to sink on Thursday morning, local time.
The local governorate’s office said emergency crews rescued 39 people.
The Consulate General of Russia in Egypt said on social media that all 45 passengers, including minors, onboard were Russian citizens.
The Red Sea coral reefs and islands off Egypt’s eastern coast are major attractions for overseas tourists. (Sindbad Submarines Facebook)
The consulate said most of the tourists had been rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada. Their health condition was not alarming, it said.
Hurghada, a bustling tourist city some 460 kilometres south-east of the Egyptian capital Cairo, is a major destination for visitors to Egypt.
The Red Sea coral reefs and islands off Egypt’s eastern coast are major draws, contributing to the country’s vital tourism sector, which employs two million people and generates more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Many tourist companies have stopped or limited their travel on the Red Sea due to the dangers of conflicts in the region.
The ABC has contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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