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Tragedy Strikes as Tourist Submarine Sinks in Hurghada
On Thursday, a tourist submarine sank off the coast of Hurghada, a popular resort city along Egypt’s Red Sea. This incident has resulted in the deaths of six foreign nationals, as reported by the local governor’s office, which has yet to confirm the specific nationalities of those who lost their lives.
The submarine, identified as “SINDBAD,” was carrying 45 Russian tourists along with members of its crew when the tragedy occurred. The Russian consulate in Hurghada has acknowledged that four individuals have been confirmed dead, though it remains unclear whether they were among the Russian tourists.
According to the consulate’s statement, “Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” indicating that efforts were underway to ascertain the status of several other tourists. In addition, municipal officials revealed to the Associated Press that nine other individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
Emergency responders successfully rescued 29 people from the water, as noted in a statement issued by the Red Sea Governorate. Details surrounding the cause of the submarine’s sinking have not yet been established, leaving questions about the circumstances that led to this tragedy.
The Red Sea is famous for its vibrant coral reefs and rich marine ecosystems, making it a focal point for Egypt’s vital tourism sector. Russian tourists have become an increasingly significant demographic within this market. However, ongoing regional conflicts have prompted many tour operators to either suspend or restrict activities in the area due to safety concerns.
This is not the first incident involving tourist vessels in the region this year; in November, a tourist diving boat sank after being overwhelmed by large waves, resulting in four drowning deaths, although 33 were rescued. Earlier in June, another boat was reported to have sunk due to storm damage, but fortunately, no casualties occurred at that time.
A recent United Nations report has positioned Egypt as the top destination in Africa for tourism revenues in 2024, projecting earnings of $14.1 billion US—more than double the revenue generated from the Suez Canal. This underscores the crucial role that tourism plays in the economic stability of the nation.
Source
www.cbc.ca