Six dead, 39 rescued as submarine sinks at Red Sea

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BBC live coverage has updated reports on a tourist submarine sunk in the Egyptian Red Sea, off the coast of Hurghada.

Six people, all Russian, were reported dead after the tourist vessel sank around one kilometre from the coast at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT).
The local governor said 39 tourists were rescued, and nobody is missing.

The 45 tourists were from Russia, Norway, Sweden and India, the governor said, along with five Egyptian crew members.

The company in charge, Sindbad, has cancelled upcoming trips and authorities are investigating.

A number of people have got in touch with the BBC to share their experiences on Sindbad submarines – this tourist shared footage from their trip this past weekend.

The cause of the incident is still unknown.
Speaking to Russian media, a survivor said that as they took their reserved seats, water started “pouring in” as two hatches were open. She said it was as if the submarine had fallen off “whatever it was holding on to”.

Earlier, report stated that tourists were taken out to the submarine – docked at a floating platform – on a regular boat).

But other unconfirmed reports said the vessel hit a reef at 20 metres and lost pressure.