Tragic Submarine Sinking in Egypt’s Red Sea Leaves Six Feared Dead

A tourist submarine sank off Egypt’s Red Sea, resulting in at least six feared dead and nine injured, with four in critical condition. 29 others were rescued. The vessel, Sindbad, had around 40 passengers onboard during an excursion to view coral reefs. A survivor recounted the dire circumstances they faced while awaiting rescue.

At least six individuals are feared dead and another nine injured following the sinking of a tourist submarine in Egypt’s Red Sea. Reports indicate that the vessel went down near the coastal city of Hurghada early on Thursday, March 27. Among the injured, four have been reported as critically ill and were subsequently transported to local hospitals.

Local news sources, including Al-Masry Al-Youm and the BBC, confirmed that a total of 29 passengers were rescued from the submarine, which was identified as Sindbad, part of the Sindbad Submarines fleet. Approximately 40 tourists reportedly were on board when it sank near the harbor while on an excursion to view coral reefs.

The BBC reports that passengers of various nationalities were aboard the submarine during its journey. Following the incident, efforts to reach out for comments from Sindbad Submarines have been initiated. Notably, a similar tragic event occurred in November 2024, when a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea, resulting in 11 individuals unaccounted for or deceased.

In a firsthand account, survivor Lucianna Galetta from Belgium recounted her ordeal as one of the last 35 survivors rescued. She and her partner, Christophe Lemmens, were stranded in the engine room for 35 hours, awaiting rescue with no communication with the outside world. Galetta expressed how desperate the situation felt, stating, “I was so ready to die. We didn’t think that someone would come.”

The sinking of the tourist submarine off the coast of Hurghada highlights the dangers associated with underwater excursions and the significant impact on those involved. With recent similar incidents in mind, safety protocols and rescue operations are under scrutiny. The tragedy underlines the urgency for enhanced safety measures in tourism operations to prevent future occurrences.

Original Source: people.com