Six people dead after ‘tourist submarine sinks’ in Egypt
Six people are believed to be dead and at least nine more after a tourist submarine sank off the coast of Egypt.
Multiple ambulances have been deployed to the scene in Hurghada, a city on the Red Sea coast that is popular with British travellers.
Egyptian media reported that the boat is named ‘Sinbad’ and had about 44 passengers of different nationalities on board when the incident happened.
Four passengers out of the nine injured are understood to be in critical condition and fighting for their life.
At least 29 people have been rescued in the moments after the boat sank.
The group had paid for a sea trip to inspect the coral reefs in the Red Sea.
The vessel capsized in front of the marina of one of the famous hotels in Hurghada, claimed sources cited by Al Masry Al Youm.
Sindbad has been running tourist trips in the Hurghada area for several years, but it is unclear if there are previous incidents on record.
Britain forced to issue safety warning to tourists
Because of the number of incidents involving liveaboard dive vessels operating in the Red Sea, the British government’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) was forced to issue a safety warning for tourists.
These are some of the problems MAIB warned of:
- Safety briefings to passengers were of a poor standard or not conducted at all and crews appeared poorly trained and were unfamiliar with their vessels.
- The dive boats involved were poorly constructed and often substantially. modified/extended which resulted in some vessels exhibiting inadequate stability
- Essential lifesaving equipment was defective, out-of-date for service and, in some cases, missing
- The rapid spread of fire is indicative of poor structural fire protection, and items of essential safety equipment, such as fire detection systems and fire extinguishers, were either missing or defective
- Emergency escape routes were via lockable doors, had no emergency lighting and were unmarked
Semi-submarine tours – involving a special boat designed for underwater sightseeing – have been running in the area for years.
Unlike a traditional submarine, it does not fully submerge and passengers can observe marine life from the lower deck.
This is also not the first fatal incident involving tourist boats in Hurghada.
A tourist boat called the ‘Sea Story’ capsized, leaving 11 dead or missing – including a British couple – back in November.
Over the last five years, there have been 16 incidents involving liveaboard dive vessels operating in the Red Sea.
Three liveaboard dive boats have been lost in the last 21 months, which all resulted in numerous deaths including some UK nationals.
Chief inspector of marine accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, stressed that such vessels are unlikely to be built, maintained, equipped, and operated to the ‘standard of similar vessels in the UK’.
He urged British travellers to exercise ‘extreme caution’ when choosing a boat.
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