A recreational submarine taking 45 tourists on an underwater cruise of coral reefs sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Hurghada, leaving six people dead.

It is believed around 40 passengers were on board the vessel when it sank off the Egyptian city of Hurghada, the BBC understands.

At least six Russian tourists, two of them children, died when an Egyptian commercial submarine carrying 50 people sank in the Red Sea near the resort city of Hurghada. The Red Sea Governorate said the submarine had 50 people on board, 45 tourists and five crew, Reuters reported.