Trawler sinking off Russia kills 56, dozens rescued

A fishing trawler sank in freezing waters off Russia’s Far East on Thursday, killing at least 56 people and setting off a frantic search for survivors that led to dozens being rescued alive. In the worst such accident in recent Russian history, some 132 people were on board the Dalny Vostok when it went down at around 6:30 am (2030 GMT on Wednesday) in the Sea of Okhotsk off the Kamchatka peninsula, possibly after a collision. A local governor speculated that the vessel had been overloaded. Sixty-three people were rescued while 13 were still missing and rescuers halted active search operations as night fell.

The investigation plans to question members of the crew and company management shortly. Currently the investigation is looking into a possible collision…

Investigators said

World leaders expressed their condolences to President Vladimir Putin, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said she had learned of the sinking “with dismay” and wanted to express her “sincere sympathy.” All the survivors were taken aboard a ship. A helicopter with a medic on board made a failed attempt in two-metre (six-foot) waves to airlift those seriously injured to hospital in the city of Magadan, 250 kilometres (155 miles) to the north. It was set to make a fresh attempt early Friday.

Nine people are in grave condition … Although they were wearing wetsuits, they suffered hypothermia because the water temperature is around zero degrees Celsius.

Tatyana Yukhmanova, a spokeswoman for the emergency ministry in the Kamchatka region, told AFP

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