Russian rescue workers discovered 15 people on a life raft near an offshore drilling platform that capsized in the Sea of Okhotsk, media reports say. It is not clear if the people are still alive.
“Aircraft have found a rescue raft. Up to 15 people may be aboard; it is unknown whether they are alive or not,” shipping company owner Yuri Melikhov, told CNN.
The rig overturned and sank during a storm on Sunday as it was being towed from Kamchatka. Around 67 people were on board and thus far, authorities have discovered around 16 dead and have rescued 14.
The remainder of the crew is feared dead in the icy waters of the northern Okhotsk Sea, where the water temperature hovers above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
President Dmitry Medvedev said investigators will look into why the rig was being pulled in such poor weather conditions, reported Radio Free Europe. Investigators have said there might be grounds for a criminal investigation.
A survivor of the accident, Sergei Grauman, said, “It all felt like a movie,” adding that a strong wave smashed into the dining room, forcing everyone to rush to the deck, according to the BBC.
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