Day of mourning declared in Yakutia over tugboat accident

KHABAROVSK, August 29 (Itar-Tass) -- August 31 is declared a day of
mourning in Yakutia over the death of tugboat crewmembers in the Laptev
Sea.
The republic's President Yegor Borisov has signed a decree declaring
mourning.
The sailors carried out their duty during a rescue operation to help a
ship in distress and gave their lives to rescue other people, the document
noted.
Flags of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
will be lowered to half-mast on the day. Television and radio companies
and culture organisations are recommended to cancel entertainment
broadcasts and events.
The sea tugboat Alexei Kulakovsky, which belonged to the Lena River
ship line, sank 20 miles away from the coast in the area of the port of
Tiksi on the night to Friday, August 27. Fourteen crewmembers were aboard
the vessel. Three of them were rescued. The rescued captain and two
sailors are in satisfactory condition.
The five dead bodies of crewmembers were taken to Tiksi. Searching for
the rest continues. A criminal case is opened over the accident on charges
of violation of the sea transport safety regulations that caused two or
more deaths.
-0-pan