The Red Sea, which is located off the coast of Egypt, has been the scene of a fatal accident.
An excursion to study the coral reefs resulted in the sinking of a tourist submarine that was carrying roughly 44 passengers, including children, from a variety of countries.
Multiple people have lost their lives as a result of the tragedy, and there has been a significant rescue operation.
When it began to sink
According to the local newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, the tourist submarine Sindbad was preparing for an expedition when it was in the Hurghada region of the Red Sea in Egypt. On Thursday, something went horribly wrong with the submarine that provides tourists with a close-up glimpse of the coral reefs and the beautiful marine life that is found underwater.
It was disclosed by sources that the tourist submarine sank in front of the marina of one of the well-known hotels in Hurghada, which resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to nine others, including four people who were in serious condition. A total of 29 additional persons were saved.
Immediately after the submarine began to sink, a rescue mission was initiated, and the Egyptian Ambulance Authority and the Red Sea Health Directorate were reportedly placed on high alert. A total of twenty-one ambulances, in addition to security and emergency personnel, were sent to the location when the incident occurred.
View this post on Instagram
Sindbad has been providing tours for tourists in the Hurghada region for a number of years now.
In accordance with the information provided on its website, the firm is the owner of two of the world’s only “14 real recreational submarines.” In order to provide breathtaking views of the coral reefs and marine life, the vehicle is capable of descending to a depth of 82 feet in the ocean.
“[Go] below sea level for forty minutes, enjoying the corals and fish with divers show to take photographs for a memory that will last a lifetime, and then you will be transferred back by the same boat to the marine,” According to Sindbad Submarines, and in addition to:
“Enjoy the comfort and safety of our air-conditioned submarine, which is designed with 44 passenger seats, two pilot seats, and large round viewing windows for an experience that is unmatched in the underwater world.”
The deaths of six people of foreign nationality
As reported by the New York Post, the governor’s office in Hurghada has verified that six individuals of foreign nationality have been slain, however they have not disclosed the identities of these individuals.
In the meantime, the Russian Embassy in Egypt published a message on Facebook stating that all of the visitors who were on board were legitimate citizens of Russia. Despite this, the embassy reported that there were only four fatalities, which is contrary to the official tally that was provided by the local authorities.
According to the official Russian Telegram channel Baza, one of the people who passed away was a child.
In 2022 alone, the city of Hurghada, which is situated in the Red Sea governorate of Egypt, was visited by more than four million tourists. This makes it a famous tourist destination for many people from Europe. The resorts and hotels in the region saw a significant increase in the number of visitors, with German tourists constituting the largest group, with a total of 1.158 million. People from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Russia were among the other significant nationalities represented among the tourists.
View this post on Instagram
After sixteen accidents over the course of the previous five years, the government of the United Kingdom issued a safety warning in February regarding liveaboard diving vacations in the Red Sea. This was despite the fact that these vacations are extremely popular. In the past twenty-one months, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has stated that three diving boats have been lost, which has resulted in several fatalities, including some individuals who were citizens of the United Kingdom.
As a consequence of this, the government of the United Kingdom urged tourists to make reservations for these vacations only through “reputable vendors who can provide assurance about the safety standards applicable regarding the dive boat.” Additionally, they suggested that it would be beneficial for customers to receive a comprehensive safety briefing from the crew upon their arrival on board.