"40 people turned to the hospital": what is known about the poisoning of Russians in a hotel in Hurghada

The Egyptian prosecutor's office closed a four-star hotel in the resort town of Hurghada, where there was a massive poisoning of Russian citizens. 

According to the Federation of Tourism Chambers of Egypt, by order of the department, the hotel was closed for an indefinite period for violating sanitary safety standards.

They added that the tourists were settled in other hotels.

“40 people have turned to the hospital,” a representative of the federation told TASS.

According to him, the condition of the victims is satisfactory, there is no threat to life, they can be discharged as early as Monday.

The department added that the prosecutor's office has launched an investigation at the hotel.

"For non-compliance with sanitary safety requirements in relation to food, drinks and services provided, the hotel faces not only large financial fines, but complete closure with the revocation of the license," the federation noted.

The Consul General of Russia in Hurghada, Viktor Voropaev, also confirmed that the local sanitary authorities had decided to close the AMC Royal hotel, whose guests sought medical help due to poisoning.

The Consul General also reported that Governor Amr Hanafi has set up a commission of regional health and tourism officials to conduct a check on the hotel.

Earlier, a TASS source in the Federation of Tourism Chambers of Egypt reported that after lunch at the hotel, 10 Russians felt unwell and were taken to the hospital.

Later, the number of victims increased. 

The head of the tourist guides in Hurghada, Bashar Abu Taleb, said that several more cases of poisoning were detected at the hotel, but without showing symptoms.

“Such violations entail prosecution.

The closure of the hotel is a strict legal measure for non-compliance with sanitary standards for food and beverages, as well as the spread of the new coronavirus, ”he said.

The executive director of the Alliance of Travel Agencies of Russia, Natalia Osipova, in a conversation with RT, expressed the opinion that what happened was a hotel problem, and the situation itself would not affect the tourism industry in any way.

“This is a local case in one hotel.

The hotel's reputation may be temporarily damaged until order is restored, ”she said.

In turn, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), with reference to the ERV insurance company, said that the state of health of the injured Russians does not cause concern.

“All tourists are offered medical assistance.

Some of the tourists are in the clinic.

Others refused hospitalization and doctors' services.

The situation is under control.

There are no serious cases, ”said the associations at the ERV insurance company. 

At the same time, Rospotrebnadzor announced its readiness to provide legal support to Russian tourists who were poisoned at the hotel, in particular, in filing claims and class actions.

"Inquiries on the situation have been sent to the Egyptian Republic through the Foreign Ministry," the ministry said.

The victims can send an appeal by filling out a special form on the Rospotrebnadzor website, the press service of the department noted.

The death of Russian tourists in Albania

On October 16, Albanian media reported that the bodies of four Russian citizens were found in a hotel sauna in the village of Kerret, Kavaya district.

According to police, the victims - two men and two women aged 31 to 58 years old, they were in Albania on vacation.

According to information from other sources, one of the victims was 60 years old.

The consular section of the Russian Embassy in Albania said that it is clarifying the circumstances of the death of the Russians.

According to some media reports, the dead Russians were in the sauna for longer than the permitted time.

However, the publication ABC News Albania suggested that death could have occurred as a result of poisoning.

On October 22, the Russian Embassy in Tirana reported that the bodies of Russian tourists were sent by plane to Russia.

“In accordance with Russian legislation, an additional examination can be carried out to find out the causes of their death.

We count on the earliest possible receipt of official conclusions from the Albanian side on this issue and further close cooperation of Russian and Albanian law enforcement agencies to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy, ”the embassy stressed.

On the fact of the incident, the General Prosecutor's Office of Albania decided to open a criminal case under the article “Murder”.

At the same time, the investigation into the deaths of the Russians did not reveal traces of violence on their bodies.