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Rescuers bring 570 anglers to coast from ice-floe off Sakhalin

The number of anglers on the ice-floe that was torn away from the Sakhalin coast ice and that drifted in the Sea of Okhotsk
Screenshot Russia 24
Screenshot Russia 24

VLADIVOSTOK, April 1 (Itar-Tass) — The number of anglers on the ice-floe that was torn away from the Sakhalin coast ice and that drifted in the Sea of Okhotsk, turned to be much more than rescuers supposed.

A total of 570 people have been brought to the coast by this time, reported the press service of the Sakhalin regional branch of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies. According to initial information, there were around 400 people on the ice-floe driven to high seas.

The state of the rescued is satisfactory; they need no medical aid, reported the press service.

Rescuers continue the operation to bring the remaining people on the ice-floe to the coast.

A helicopter of the Sakhalin coastguard agency with three rescuers and appropriate equipment aboard flew from the Khomutovo airport to render aid in rescuing anglers.

All in all, over 40 people, 11 boats and two aircraft are involved in rescuing devotees of winter angling. Out of the total, 310 people were brought to the coast by a helicopter of the Ministry for Emergencies.

The ice-floe with anglers off the village of Vzmorye had been torn away by winds and sea current on Sunday noon (local time) and driven from the coast at a distance of 500-600 metres. Data of space monitoring showed that the ice-floe’s drifting to high seas virtually stopped in 2.5 hours, since it ran into solid ice fields.