Six Russians dead, 39 tourists rescued after submarine sinks in Red Sea off Egypt

Six Russians died on Thursday and 39 foreign tourists were rescued when a viewing submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada, the local governor's office said on Facebook, adding that no passengers or crew were still missing.

The Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named "Sindbad", had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew.

"Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," the consulate said.

The submarine was equipped with large portholes to let passengers see the Red Sea's spectacular corals and marine life, and able to dive to a depth of 25 metres, according to the company's website.

It was a far cry from the extreme adventure craft that imploded thousands of metres below the Atlantic near the sunken Titanic in June 2023.

The Red Sea is a major hub for Egypt's crucial tourism industry, in which Russian tourists play an increasing part, yet there have been several incidents of tourist boats capsizing.

Last June, a boat sank after suffering severe damage from high waves, though no casualties were reported.

And in Nov, a tourist boat capsized while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a multi-day diving trip. Local media reported that at least 11 people had died in the incident, which was also blamed on high waves.

At the time, the governor of the Red Sea province said the boat, the Sea Story, had passed a safety inspection eight months earlier.

Last month, a tourist boat capsized while en route to Hurghada after undergoing maintenance.

The Tourism Ministry, Red Sea governorate and the Chamber of Diving did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

A United Nations report ranked Egypt first in Africa for tourism revenues in 2024 at $14.1 billion, more than twice what it earns in Suez Canal revenues, highlighting tourism's vital role in sustaining the hard-pressed economy.