Russia's Onega ship sank in the Barents Sea near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago with 19 people on board, of whom two were saved, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Monday.
According to preliminary estimates, the incident in Russia's north was due to formation of ice.
"The crew consisted of 19 people. Two people were saved," the emergencies ministry said in a statement.
A search and rescue operation is being conducted.
All the 17 missing crew members of Russia's Onega vessel that sank in the Barents Sea are believed to be dead, while condition of the two saved people is satisfactory, a spokesman for emergency services told Sputnik on Monday.
ReplyDeleteEarlier in the day, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that the vessel capsized and sank in the Barents Sea waters.
Two people were saved, while searches for the other 17 individuals who were on board continue.
"Most likely, all the 17 people died. They have not been found yet," the spokesman said, adding that water temperature is extremely low.
The condition of those saved is satisfactory, he added.
The transport department of the Russian Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal probe into violation of water transport traffic safety rules after the incident.