Where the submarine sank
The tourist submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea city of Hurghada early on Thursday, the BBC understands.
The city is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches and coral reefs.
Sindbad has been operating for several years
Sindbad has been running tourist trips in the Hurghada area for several years.
The company says it holds two of the only “14 real recreational submarines” in the world.
The company allows tourists to travel 25 metres (82 feet) deep in the sea to explore “500 metres of coral reef and its marine inhabitant”.
The website for Sindbad Submarines continues: “It offers 44 passenger seats – two pilots’ seats and a sizable round viewing window for each passenger.”
Egypt’s Red Sea coast has history of tourist boat accidents
This is not the first incident involving tourist boats in Hurghada.
In November, a tourist boat called the Sea Story sank, leaving 11 dead or missing – including a British couple – and 35 survivors.
At the time, Egyptian authorities attributed the disaster to a huge wave of up to 4m (13ft) – but the BBC spoke to survivors who said there were safety issues.
UK investigators said last month there had been 16 incidents involving “liveaboard” vessels in the area in the last five years, with a number resulting in deaths.
Submarine sank close to the harbour
Our team in Cairo say the submarine is called Sindbad, and sank close to the harbour.
The boat has been in operation for years. We’ll bring you more details on this developing story as we get it.
Six feared dead in tourist submarine accident in Red Sea
At least six people are feared dead, with nine others injured, after a tourist submarine sank off the coast of the Egyptian Red Sea city of Hurghada early on Thursday, local sources tell the BBC.
Twenty-nine others were rescued. The injured, including four in critical condition, were transferred to nearby hospitals.
It is believed that the around 40 tourist passengers were on board the submarine.
Also read: Saudi Arabia Targets $2.9bn Red Sea Tourism Spend and 28,000 Jobs as It Becomes Yachting Hub
