AT least six students have reportedly drowned and 24 others have been injured on a school trip to a beach in Egypt.

Paramedics rushed to the beach in Alexandria after receiving reports that students were struggling with the water, the country’s health ministry said.

A large-scale rescue effort was launched with 16 ambulances deployed.

But six students could not be saved and were pronounced dead at the scene at Abu Talat Beach.

Rescuers treated three injured students on the beach – and another 21 were taken to nearby hospitals.

Officials in Alexandria have now ordered the closure of the beach.

Red warning flags have been raised across the area to caution people public against entering the sea due to dangerous wave conditions and strong currents.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health said it “urges the public to adhere to safety guidelines on beaches”.

Khaled Abdel Ghaffa, Minister of Health and Population, said that all emergency treatment is being made available to the students.

An investigation is now underway, and officials are examining whether proper safety measures were in place.

It comes after six people died while 39 were miraculously rescued after the Sindbad pleasure submarine sank off the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada.

The sub was carrying 45 tourists as it made a 40-minute journey to view a reef.

Most of the tourists were Russians, but there were also some from India, Norway and Sweden, officials said. There were also five Egyptians on board.

The passengers were clients of the Biblio Globus company staying at Hurghada’s Sindbad Hotel, which owns the sub and operates the undersea adventure trips.

Twenty-nine were pulled from the shark-infested waters, but nine were injured, including four who have been left fighting for their lives in a critical condition.