**Tragedy Strikes as Tour Submarine Sinks in Red Sea, Leaving Six Dead**

**Six fatalities reported, with ongoing inquiries into the incident's causes.**

 

In a heart-wrenching incident off the coast of Egypt, a tourist submarine named Sindbad sank in the Red Sea, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, according to local authorities. The early Thursday disaster, which occurred near Hurghada, involved a total of 45 passengers, among whom 39 were rescued, with nine sustaining injuries, four of them critically. Updates confirmed that no additional individuals remain unaccounted for following the incident.

Amr Hanafy, the governor of the Red Sea area, shared that of the deceased tourists, two were minors, as stated by Viktor Voropaev, a Russian official based in Hurghada. The Russian embassy reported that the passengers aboard the submarine were all of Russian nationality.

The Sindbad submarine, known for providing underwater tours amid vibrant coral reefs, has been a recreational choice for tourists in the region for several years. The operator, Sindbad Submarines, claims to possess one of only 14 authentic recreational submarines globally, equipped to accommodate 44 passengers and two pilots. These excursions allow guests to dive to depths of 25 meters (82 feet) underwater, catering to explorers of all ages.

Investigations are currently underway to ascertain the reasons behind the submarine's sinking, which occurred around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), approximately 1 kilometer from shore in a calm harbour environment. The incident has drawn attention to previous maritime misfortunes; notably, in November, a tourist vessel named Sea Story faced a similar fate, leading to the deaths or disappearances of 11 individuals, intensifying scrutiny on safety measures among local tourist operations. UK safety investigations recently highlighted 16 incidents involving liveaboard vessels in the past five years, several resulting in loss of life, raising significant concerns about maritime safety in the region.