A tourist submarine named Sinbad Submarines has tragically sunk off the coast of Egypt, resulting in the loss of six lives and leaving nine others injured, according to officials.

On Thursday, a tragic incident occurred off the coast of Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, where a tourist submarine sank, resulting in the loss of six lives, as reported in a Facebook update from the Russian embassy in Egypt.

It remains uncertain whether all four individuals were of Russian nationality; however, the embassy has confirmed that they were on a submarine that was transporting 45 Russian tourists.

Reports from local Egyptian media earlier today indicated that six individuals lost their lives in the incident. According to Reuters, the Hurghada governorate office reported that the deceased were foreign nationals.

The incident took place at 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, as reported by the embassy, when the submarine Sindbad “crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore.”

Among the passengers on the submarine, which was associated with a hotel of the same name, there were minors; however, it remains uncertain whether they are among the deceased.

The vessel was engaged in a routine underwater expedition to examine the coral reef, as stated by the embassy.

“Initial reports indicate that the majority of those on board have been rescued and are currently being accommodated in hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” stated the embassy, further noting that “the status of several tourists is still being determined.”

The embassy has reported that diplomats from the Consulate General are currently situated on the pier of the Sindbad Hotel.

CNN has contacted the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for a response.

The submarine’s operator boasts a “expert team” with “years of experience,” as stated on its website, which further claims that its submarines are “engineered in Finland to withstand underwater pressure up to 75m, ensuring safety and reliability.”

In the event of an emergency, the company advises that “oxygen masks can be found overhead, while life vests are stored beneath the seats.”

Sindbad Submarines has announced that it boasts a fleet of two “recreational submarines,” each capable of accommodating 44 passengers along with two pilots, featuring a “sizable round viewing window” for every passenger.

The craft is capable of descending to a depth of 25 meters beneath the surface for a duration of 40 minutes, enabling passengers to delve into “500 meters of coral reef and its marine inhabitants.”

The cabin, described as “spacious and air-conditioned,” is reportedly equipped with “comfortable seats and personal TV monitors.”

In November, a tragic incident unfolded as at least 16 individuals went missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea, despite prior warnings regarding turbulent sea conditions. At that moment, the precise reasons behind the sinking of the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht were not readily apparent.

The tourism sector in Egypt stands as one of its principal sources of revenue.

Source: AP/CNN