Egypt submarine accident latest: Six dead as tourist ship sinks off Hurghada with dozens on board
Six people have died after a tourist submarine carrying dozens of passengers sank of the coast of Egypt.
Egyptian authorities have dispatched multiple ambulances to the shore near the tourist hotspot Hurghada after the alarm was raised over the "Sindband" submarine. The submersible, which was carrying around 44 passengers of different nationalities, sank during an as of yet undisclosed incident this morning. The "semi-submarine", which has been operating tourist trips of years, was designed for underwater sightseeing.
Rather than fully submerging like other vehicles, it enabled people to see under the sea's surface via an underwater lower deck. The tourist group had reportedly paid for a trip to inspect the Red Sea's famous coral reefs. But their boat capsized, and emergency services have started rescuing people from the sea's depths.
Initial reports of the incident came via the Red Sea Security Directorate, which said the submarine had sunk in a marina attached to a "famous hotel" not yet named in local media. Sources speaking to the publication said the directorate and the Egyptian Ambulance Authority have been placed on maximum alert.
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Liam Doyle
Egyptian newspaper Al Masry Al Youm reports that 29 people have been rescued from the capsizing site.
The publication adds that nine others were injured in the incident, four of whom are in critical condition as roughly 21 ambulances take part in rescue efforts.
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