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Hunt for 17 fishermen feared to die after their boat was ‘covered in ice’ and sank in minus 30 temperatures in the Russian Arctic
- The Onega sank in the Russian Arctic in the early hours of Monday morning.
- A search and rescue mission is underway for 17 missing members of the 19-member crew after two were rescued by another fishing vessel.
- The ship reportedly sank under its own weight after being ‘covered in ice’
- Russian transport investigators have opened a criminal case
A desperate search for 17 fishermen is underway after their boat sank in dangerous Arctic waters.
Two men were rescued from the Onega that sank in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the far north of Russia this morning.
The ship sank at 7 am local time and reportedly sank under its own weight after being “covered in ice”.
The two men rescued so far were rescued from the Barents Sea, whose waters were at a freezing temperature of minus 30 ° C (-22 ° F).
Russia’s emergency ministry said the ship’s crew numbered 19.
A search and rescue operation is being carried out in treacherous conditions, in the hope that the missing men will vanish in the rough seas and high winds.
A desperate search for 17 fishermen is underway after their boat sank in dangerous Arctic waters. Two men were rescued from the Onega (pictured) that sank in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the far north of Russia this morning.
The ship sank in the arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya (pictured) in the extreme north of Russia, where the waters were minus 30 ° C (-22 ° F).
Most likely all 17 people died. They have not yet been found, ” said a ministry spokesman.
The weather was reportedly too bad for a helicopter to fly to assist with search and rescue efforts.
Online news outlet Mash said the Russian-flagged ship, built in 1979, sank while attempting to raise a net with a catch.
Another fishing boat, the Voykovo, was able to pull two fishermen out of the icy waters after reaching the site.
The pair wore wetsuits and were clutching the body of another crew member, who was dragged away as the survivors came on board.
The waves that washed away the body reportedly reached 10 feet.
The two men were said to be in satisfactory condition after the ordeal.
Russian transport investigators have opened a criminal case about the sinking of the ship, which has a home port in the Arctic city of Murmansk.
