54 dead, scores missing as trawler sinks off Russian coast

April 2 — A rescue operation is underway after a 103-meter-long trawler sank off the Russian coast late yesterday night. The Russian freezer trawler ‘Dalniy Vostok,’ sunk in the Sea of Okhotsk near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Reports said the vessel may have struck drifting ice causing the engine compartment to fill with water. According to the BBC, the trawler sank within 15 minutes. After the ‘Dalniy Vostok’ sank, 26 Russian fishing vessels as well as a MI-8 rescue helicopter arrived at the site to try and save crewmembers. Sixty-three crewmembers have been rescued alive while at least 54 have been confirmed dead. Around 15 crewmembers are still missing. Rescuers say that the chance of survival in the near-freezing waters are slim. Out of the 132 people who were on board the trawler, 78 crewmembers are Russian while the remaining 54 are foreigners. A criminal investigation has been opened following the incident as investigators examine the possibility that several safety procedures were violated. It is possible that there was an excess amount of cargo onboard the ship. — Reuters     [caption id="attachment_73625" align="alignnone" width="500"] Reports said the Russian trawler may have struck drifting ice causing the engine compartment to fill with water. — Reuters[/caption]