Thomas McIntosh
BBC News
BBC
Sinbad’s submarine (not a lost ship) in Hargada on Thursday
Egyptian authorities questioned the crew of tourist submarines that had been sunk in the Red Sea.
The 39 passengers and five crew members were rescued Thursday after the Sinbad ship was established around local time (08:00 GMT), officials say. Nine people, including four, were injured.
The group was on a tourist boat and watched the coral reefs from the resort town of Hurghada.
Russian media was among six Russian tourists whose two children were killed. The cause of the incident is still unknown.
Sinbad has been operating as a tourist submarine for years.
Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said 45 Sinbad passengers are from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. Five Egyptian crews were also on board.
Hanafi said that all six of the deaths were Russians, but details of the victims have not been released yet.
Authorities said two married doctors were among the deceased and their daughters were in the hospital.
Hanafy said the submarines involved had a valid license and the crew leader had obtained the correct “science certificate.”
An investigation into the incident is underway. The Russian Tour Operators Association said the submarine crashed into the reef by telegram mail and then lost pressure at a depth of 20 meters (65 feet).
Russian tourists play a growing role in Egypt’s tourism sector. This is the lifeline for the country’s illness economy.
Watch: Inside the Sinbad submarine before the incident
Hurghada is located southeast of Cairo. Cairo is a tourist destination known for its beaches and coral reefs.
According to the Sindbad Submarines website, the submarines had large pores, allowing passengers to see the spectacular corals and marine life of the Red Sea, allowing them to descend to a depth of 25 meters (82 feet).
Dr. James Aldridge of Bristol made the same trip to the submarine in February 2025. He told the BBC:
“It has fresh paint, modern equipment and courteous, professional English-speaking staff (including two divers who will accompany you).”
He explained that passengers were listening to safety briefings recorded in multiple languages, and said no life jackets were issued.
“We toured the reef for 40 minutes. The first 20 people were facing a coral reef. The subs were never “too close” and were not safe.
“I was facing the sea for my return trip,” he added.
It was the second incident in the Red Sea in about six months.
Last November, a boat named Sea Story, carrying more than 40 people, sank near a resort in Marsa Alam, Egypt, with 11 people not booked or estimated dead.
The reason behind this latest tragedy is not yet clear. However, the frequency of such incidents raises great questions about the safety measures adopted by local governments, such popular tourist sea excursion areas, and whether appropriate safety checks have been implemented.
