A submarine carrying Russian tourists sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast on Thursday, leaving at least six people dead and rescue workers scrambling to pull people out of the water, local officials said.

According to rescue workers, a holidaymaker's submarine has sunk in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. According to initial findings, at least six people died in the sinking - local helpers confirmed this to the German Press Agency.

The Red Sea Governorate said the submarine had 50 people on board, 45 tourists and five crew, Reuters reported. The tourists were of nationalities including Russia, India, Norway and Sweden, Reuters said.