CAIRO – A sightseeing submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of six Russian tourists, while 39 foreign tourists were safely rescued, according to the local governor’s office on Facebook. Officials confirmed that no passengers or crew members remain missing.

The Red Sea Governorate stated that the vessel, named Sindbad, was carrying 50 people at the time—45 tourists from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden, along with five Egyptian crew members. "Most passengers were successfully rescued and taken to hotels or hospitals in Hurghada," the Russian consulate reported.

The submarine, designed with large portholes to offer views of the Red Sea’s marine life and coral reefs, was capable of diving up to 25 meters, as per the operator's website. Unlike deep-sea submersibles used for extreme explorations, such as the one that imploded near the Titanic wreck in June 2023, Sindbad was intended for leisure cruises.

The Red Sea plays a crucial role in Egypt’s tourism sector, a major contributor to the country’s economy, with Russian visitors making up a growing share. Egypt also draws tourists with its iconic pyramids and Nile River cruises in Luxor and Aswan. Successive Egyptian governments have cracked down on Islamist militant groups, whose past attacks on foreign visitors had severely impacted tourism.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the submarine’s sinking, with Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy stating that the vessel was legally licensed and operated by an Egyptian owner. The crew captain also held a valid license. Recent months have seen multiple maritime accidents involving tourist boats in the region. In June, a vessel was severely damaged by high waves and sank, though no casualties were reported. Another boat capsized in November during a multi-day diving trip, leading to at least 11 fatalities. More recently, a tourist boat overturned last month while traveling to Hurghada after undergoing maintenance.

Neither the Tourism Ministry nor the Chamber of Diving responded to Reuters' requests for comments. A United Nations report ranked Egypt as Africa’s top earner from tourism in 2024, generating $14.1 billion—more than twice the revenue from the Suez Canal—underscoring the industry’s importance to the country’s economy.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.