A model of a Sindbad Submarines vessel. Reuters
A model of a Sindbad Submarines vessel. Reuters
A model of a Sindbad Submarines vessel. Reuters
A model of a Sindbad Submarines vessel. Reuters

Hurghada submarine 'began sinking while being boarded', say Russian authorities


Kamal Tabikha
  • English
  • Arabic

A submarine carrying tourists in Egypt's Red Sea allegedly began sinking while passengers were boarding, leading to the deaths of six Russians and injuries to nine other people, according to survivors and Russia's consul general in the resort city of Hurghada.

The incident on Thursday morning off Hurghada involved the Sindbad 2 sightseeing submarine, operated by Sindbad Submarines in the city.

Egyptian authorities and Russian officials said that 45 passengers were on board, most of whom were rescued. Witnesses reported seeing injured tourists, many of them children, being brought to the beach unconscious.

On Friday, the injured received a visit from the governor of Red Sea province, Amr Hanafi. He promised an investigation but did not say what Egyptian authorities believed was the cause.

Officials in Hurghada told The National on Thursday that preliminary investigations determined the cause of the incident was a collision with a coral reef that depressurised the vessel cabin and allowed water in.

Survivors of the Sindbad 2 submarine are visited in hospital in Hurghada by Amr Hanafi, governor of the Red Sea governorate. AP
Survivors of the Sindbad 2 submarine are visited in hospital in Hurghada by Amr Hanafi, governor of the Red Sea governorate. AP

However, Russian survivors have given testimonies that appear to allege that human error or a technical malfunction caused the submarine to descend while its doors and hatches were still open.

Statements to Russia’s Tass news agency by the consul general said the submarine began to sink while passengers were boarding.

One survivor claimed the submarine started to submerge before all doors and hatches were sealed, moments before she and her children could board.

“My children and I were the last ones set to board – we had not yet boarded the submarine. We descended from the pontoon on to the submarine, stood on it, and suddenly the submarine began to submerge, despite the fact that the hatches were open,” she said.

“The Egyptian who was responsible for boarding started shouting, 'Stop, stop', and began pushing us on to the pontoon. I pushed my children on to the pontoon. I realised that I would no longer be able to climb on to it, and I swam away from the submarine so as not to be sucked in by the whirlpool,” she said.

The survivor said rescuers arrived promptly and took tourists to the beach to receive first aid.

In November, a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea after warnings of heavy seas. At least four people drowned, while 33 were rescued.

RESULTS

Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO

Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke

Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke

Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO

Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision

Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision

Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO

Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)

Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)

Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision

Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke

Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO

Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENever%20click%20on%20links%20provided%20via%20app%20or%20SMS%2C%20even%20if%20they%20seem%20to%20come%20from%20authorised%20senders%20at%20first%20glance%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAlways%20double-check%20the%20authenticity%20of%20websites%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEnable%20Two-Factor%20Authentication%20(2FA)%20for%20all%20your%20working%20and%20personal%20services%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOnly%20use%20official%20links%20published%20by%20the%20respective%20entity%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDouble-check%20the%20web%20addresses%20to%20reduce%20exposure%20to%20fake%20sites%20created%20with%20domain%20names%20containing%20spelling%20errors%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
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Results:

6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres

Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m

Winner: Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson

7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m

Winner: Spotify, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: UAE Oakes | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m

Winner: Divine Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Mythical Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Major Partnership, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor

Dubai World Cup nominations

UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.

START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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Updated: March 29, 2025, 4:58 AM