At least six dead as tourist submarine sinks in Red Sea

At least six people are dead, including two children, after a tourist submarine sank in the Egyptian Red Sea.

- BARNEY DAVIS

The Sindbad submarine was taking Russian tourists to explore coral reefs off the coastal city of Hurghada before it crashed and sank 1km (0.6 miles) offshore.

Of the 45 passengers on board, nine have been injured, including at least four who are in critical condition. A further 29 others have been rescued, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate. It is not yet clear how many crew members were on the vessel.

A Russian official in Hurghada, Viktor Voropaev, says at least five Russians were killed in the submarine accident, including two children. The submarine, run by Biblio Globus Egypt Tours, was carrying 45 Russian nationals, according to the Russian embassy in Cairo. The Egyptian governorate later confirmed that all six of those killed were Russian

They said in a statement on Facebook: “On March 27, at about 10am, the Sindbad bathyscaphe, owned by the hotel of the same name, crashed 1km off the shore. In addition to the crew, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors.”