Six dead and 39 rescued after tourist submarine accident in Egypt's Red Sea

Six Russian tourists have been killed and 39 other foreign tourists rescued after their tourist submarine crashed off the coast of Egypt's Red Sea province, the capital of Hurghada.

The accident happened at around 10am (4pm Singapore time) on Thursday (March 27), about a kilometre offshore. The tourist submarine was carrying 45 foreign tourists from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden and five Egyptian crew members, Xinhua said, citing a statement issued by the government of Egypt's Red Sea Province. After the accident, the relevant departments arranged 21 ambulances to participate in the rescue, and 23 injured people were sent to nearby hospitals for treatment, four of them were sent to the intensive care unit due to serious injuries.

The statement said the license of the Sindbad submarine involved in the accident was valid and the captain had obtained relevant certificates, and the cause of the accident was still under investigation.

Two of the dead were minors, Russian consul-General Viktor Voropaev was quoted as saying by state news agencies.

Five Egyptian crew members were also injured in the accident and are being treated in hospital.

The Russian consulate quoted the website of the ship's owner, Sindbad Submarines, as saying that the vessel can carry 44 passengers and two crew and can dive to depths of 25 meters.

Hurghada is a popular tourist destination on the Red Sea coast, known for its beaches and coral reef scenery.