A bathyscaphe with Russians on board sank in Egypt. What is known by this hour

An excursion pleasure bathyscaphe with Russian tourists on board sank in Egypt on March 27. The vessel was carrying out an underwater excursion with an inspection of the coral reef. According to preliminary data, six people are among the dead. Izvestia has collected everything that is known about the incident by this hour.

What happened in Egypt

The accident occurred at about 10:00 a.m. at a distance of 1 km from the coast of the resort town of Hurghada. The Sinbad recreational bathyscaphe belonged to the hotel of the same name. According to the Russian Consulate General, in addition to the crew members, there were 45 people on board, including children. They are all Russian citizens.

Tourists arrived in Egypt from the company "Biblio Globus". The host travel company is Biblio Globus Egypt Tours. As told to Izvestia by the company Sharm Hurghada Excursions, which was the organizer of the excursion, the sunken bathyscaphe was used for 10 years.

According to preliminary information, the pilot of the vessel lost control and ran into a reef, as a result, the cabin was depressurized.

Dead and injured

Initially, four deaths were reported. Later, the media reported that the number had increased to six. Most of those on board were rescued and taken to hotels and hospitals in Hurghada.

The fate of several tourists is being investigated. Currently, diplomats of the Consulate General are on the pier of the Sindbad Hotel.

The exact causes of the incident and the number of victims are being determined.