12 killed in Ukraine boat capsize near Odessa: official
Vessel transporting 36 sinks in Black Sea amid heavy storms; deaths blamed on 'absence of life jackets'
At least 12 people drowned Saturday when a boat capsized in the Black Sea near Odessa in southern Ukraine, regional authorities said.
"The reason for this tragedy were storms and an absence of life jackets. Twelve people drowned and one is missing," said Volodymyr Jmak, a deputy of the governor of Odessa region.
He added that the vessel, the Ivolga, had been transporting 36 people, including three crew, when it sank mid-afternoon.
Jmak said the remaining 23 passengers were safe of whom 18 remained in hospital late Saturday evening.
"The search operation is difficult owing to the storm but is ongoing," minister of infrastructure Andriy Pivovarski said.
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk meanwhile called for a commission of inquiry to be set up into the tragedy while police said an investigation had been opened into apparent violations of safety regulations.
Regional governor Mikhail Saakashvili, the reformist former president of Georgia and now a Ukrainian citizen, said in a post on Facebook that he would cut short a visit to the western city of Lviv to head for the scene at Zatoka, a village some 50 kilometers from Odessa.
"A terrible tragedy occurred today in Zatoka. A pleasure boat was caught in a very strong storm and went down a kilometer from the river bank. Twelve deaths and 18 people hospitalized. Terrible," said Maria Gaidar, deputy to Saakashvili, also on Facebook.
Gaidar said Sunday would be a day of mourning in the region.
(AFP)