STORY: Six people have died after a tourist submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada, the local governor’s office said on Facebook on Thursday.

The dead were all Russian citizens.

The Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named “Sindbad,” had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew.

The other 39 people were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals, the consulate added.

While local officials confirmed no passengers or crew were still missing.

The submarine was equipped with large viewing portholes and able to dive to depths of more than 80 feet, according to the company’s website.

The Red Sea is a major hub for Egypt’s crucial tourism industry, in which Russian tourists play an increasing part.

There have been several incidents of tourist boats capsizing in recent months.

The Tourism Ministry and the Chamber of Diving did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

A United Nations report ranked Egypt’s tourism revenues at $14.1 billion in 2024, more than twice what it earns from the Suez Canal.