Fourteen dead, mostly children, as boats overturn in Russian storm

At least 13 children and their adult instructor have died in a storm while boating on a lake in Russia. They were among about 50 people on board three boats - two of which overturned as the weather worsened. The tragedy happened despite days of warnings about storms on Lake Syamozero, which is 75 miles from the border with Finland. Some of those who drowned were not wearing life vests, it was reported, while one instructor has been detained by police on suspicion of breaking safety rules.

All children’s tourist camps should be inspected. The emergencies ministry must agree on all the routes, and take into account the weather conditions.

Children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov

The children, aged between 12 and 15, were on a trip from the capital Moscow to the lake, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the area. Rescuers saved more than 30 people but were still searching for four others, officials said. Local experts said that the shallow lake could be extremely dangerous to navigate in strong winds, and even experienced local fishermen stayed away from the lake over the weekend.

syamozero