Ship with over 100 on board being evacuated in Siberian river
Ship with over 100 on board evacuated in Siberian river
(about 1 hour later)
Rescuers with two helicopters are evacuating the 98 passengers and 11 crew members on board a Russian ship that ran aground in the middle of the great Siberian river Lena while on the way to the city of Yakutsk.
Rescuers with two helicopters evacuated the 98 passengers and 11 crew members on board a Russian ship that had run aground in the middle of the great Siberian river Lena while on the way to the city of Yakutsk.
The ship “Stepan Arzhakov” ran aground some eight kilometers from the village of Batamai. The vessel was washed ashore due to strong early morning crosswinds, Russia’s Emergency Ministry said, as cited by RIA Novosti. The vessel was carrying passengers from the village of Zhigansk to Yakutsk, the capital of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. Mi-8 helicopters were sent to evacuate the passengers.
The ship “Stepan Arzhakov” ran aground some eight kilometers from the village of Batamai. The vessel was washed ashore due to strong early morning crosswinds, Russia’s Emergency Ministry said, as cited by RIA Novosti.
“Two helicopters will evacuate the ship’s passengers to the left bank of the Lena River to the village of Bulus, Namsky district, then the evacuees will be brought by four buses to Yakutsk,” EMERCOM said in a statement.
There were many children and elderly people among the passengers.
The rescue plan was promptly drafted at an emergency response committee meeting in Yakutsk, EMERCOM said. First, a Mi-8 helicopter from the Khabarovsk aviation rescue center will take children and elderly passengers to ground. It is aided by the second aircraft with Sakha Republic rescuers on board, which was provided by the Polar Airlines.
The vessel was carrying passengers from the village of Zhigansk to Yakutsk, the capital of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. Mi-8 helicopters were sent to evacuate the passengers.
There are reportedly many children and elderly people among the passengers.
The rescue plan was promptly drafted at an emergency response committee meeting in Yakutsk, EMERCOM said.
“The people’s evacuation has been organized, there are many elderly people and children,” the local emergency services said in a statement, as cited by TASS.
The rescue operation lasted for several hours and was successfully completed with all passengers evacuated from the vessel. A total of 31 people, including 10 children, were brought directly to Yakutsk by two Mi-8 helicopters and the remaining 67 passengers were taken to the village of Bulus and are heading to Yakutsk on buses, EMERCOME reported.
The rescuers say they will evacuate all passengers and crew in five flights. So far, three flights have been made.
The rescued people were provided with temporary accommodation, psychological help and a hot meal in a nearby village, before being bussed to Yakutsk. Overall, 49 people and eight equipment units took part in the operation.
The rescued people will then be provided with temporary accommodation, psychological help and a hot meal in a nearby village, before being bussed to Yakutsk. Overall, 49 people and eight equipment units are taking part in the operation.
