A tourist submarine with 45 Russian passengers disappeared from the Hurghada coast in the Red Sea while operating near Egypt. Multiple reports indicate six passengers are confirmed dead while nine others sustain injuries, and rescue teams save 29 people from the submarine tragedy. The deceased passengers consist of five Russians with two children among them.
The submersible operated under the management of Sindbad Submarines, which maintains a strong reputation as an underwater tourism company in the region. The submarines operated by Sindbad Submarines reach depths of 82 feet to enable passengers to observe the diverse marine species in the Red Sea. The planned underwater exploration transformed into a disaster, which exposed potential safety risks in these tour operations.
Experts suspect that poor safety standards contributed to the accident despite the unknown origin of the incident. The waters of Egypt have already witnessed similar incidents previously. A tourist yacht with 44 passengers sank near Marsa Allam during November 2023, resulting in 11 people being considered dead. A tourist diving boat suffered a capsizing incident near Hurghada during rough weather conditions, which resulted in six people being aboard the vessel last month.
The alarming nature of this recent accident becomes more serious because it took place in waters with minimal wind and waves, thus emphasizing the necessity for stronger safety standards. The maritime safety situation in Egypt is worsening, according to oceanographer Simon Boxall from Southampton University, together with other experts.
The ongoing investigations have not answered all the questions about this incident. Were there mechanical failures? Were safety protocols ignored? The ongoing tragedy demonstrates both the dangers of underwater tourism and the necessity for enhanced safety regulations until investigators discover what caused this incident.
