46 Dead on Russian Ship Sinking

46 people lost their lives aboard on Russia’s Volga River, regional authorities reported. The ship “Bulgaria” sank on Sunday near the village of Syukeyevo in Tatarstan, about 50 miles south of the city of Kazan (about 450 miles east of Moscow).

About 200 people were travelling in the cruise, including children. At least 80 people have been rescued and dozens are still missing.

The ship did not have a license to transport passengers, it was overloaded since its operational limit was 150 passengers, and was last repaired more than 30 years ago, the Russian Prosecutor’s Office said Monday. The left engine of the ship was damaged, informed the prosecutors on their website.

President Dmitry Medvedev declared Tuesday as a day of national mourning for the victims, he informed in an emergency government meeting Monday. More than 80 scuba divers are now working on the site of the accident, more of them will arrive by the end of the day, he Emergency Situations Ministry said. The search-and rescue operation is expected to be completed by Monday evening, added the ministry on its website.

(MS)

Source: CNN