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Source says 17 sailors from Russian boat that sank in Barents Sea believed to be dead

According to the preliminary data, there are no survivors apart from two rescued sailors, the source said

MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Sailors who went missing after their fishing boat sank in the Barents Sea have died according to preliminary reports, an emergency service source told TASS Monday.

"According to the preliminary data, there are no survivors apart from two rescued sailors. The frozen vessel sank instantly during a storm, leaving practically no chance for anyone to be saved in the freezing waters," the source noted.

At 07:30, information was received that the Onega vessel had sunk in the Barents Sea near Russia’s Novaya Zemlya in the Arkhangelsk Region. The crew had 19 people. Two people were rescued. The vessel was fishing, freezing is noted to be the reason Onega sank.

A TASS source in emergency services clarified that five boats were sent to look for potential survivors. One of them saved two sailors alive, they were wearing wetsuits, there is no connection with the rest.

Onega is a fishing boat constructed in 1979, it flies the Russian flag. A criminal case was launched into violation of safety rules.