The Red Sea region of Egypt was the site of a devastating event when a submersible vessel carrying tourists sank near the city of Hurghada. The unfortunate event claimed the lives of six individuals and two dozen more managed to escape.
The Incident Near Hurghada is Unforgivable
As reported by Al Jazeera, a local hotel owned the vessel that was supposed to be an underwater trip during which tourists could view exotic coral reefs. Unfortunately, on March 28, while passengers were aboard, a horrible accident occurred. At 10 AM, around a kilometer away from the shore, the “Sindabad” submersible started sinking.
Amr Hanafi, who serves as the governor of the red sea region, shared that the six people who died were Russian citizens. 39 foreign tourists managed to be saved and brought ashore.
The submersible vessel had 45 tourists onboard from multiple countries such as Russia, Sweden, Norway, and India. There were 5 Egyptian crew members serving in the submersible.
The Explanation Behind the Sinkage Premise Differs Among Uninformed People
No one knows how or why the submersible vessel sank. On the day of the incident, it is said that the weather was exceptionally good; sunlight was shining and the coral reef was highly visible underwater. The details and evidence that led to that horrible event are still actively being pursued through an investigation.
According to the Sindbad Submarines website, the vessel is a dedicated tourist submarine designed with huge windows for incredible viewing of the underwater life and coral reefs of the Red Sea. Its operating depth is reported to reach 25 meters (82 feet).
A History of Deadly Maritime Accidents
Located approximately 460 kilometers (280 miles) southeast of Cairo, Hurghada is one of the most popular Egyptian destinations with a considerable number of Russian tourists. Unfortunately, the region has experienced a number of deadly maritime accidents recently.
- November 2024 – A submarine’s capsize off the Marsa Alam (south of Hurghada) resulted in four fatalities and seven people missing.
- June 2024 – 24 French tourists were forced to abandon their boat during a storm when it ripped the ship apart.
- 2023 – A cruise ship experienced a fire which resulted in the death of three British tourists.
This most recent incident only underscores a deepening issue of the lack of measures deemed necessary to ensure safety in the maritime tourism industry in Egypt. Investigators are now sifting through the facts in search of negligence, mechanical failure, or something else that might explain the most recent disaster.