July 12 to be announced the Day of mourning in Tatarstan in connection with loss of passengers of “Bulgaria” vessel

“July 12 will be announced the Day of mourning in Tatarstan in connection with loss of passengers of “Bulgaria” vessel in Kamsko-Ustinski region of RT”, - RT President Rustam Minnikhanov informed at a session of emergency operations centre. The session took place at Ministry of interiors on RT (Dzerzhinskogo st., Kazan) in format of video conference with participation of RT Minister of civil defence and emergency situations on RT Rafis Khabibullin.

Rustam Minnikhanov informed that according to the latest data 208 people could be on board of the vessel (since not all passengers were officially registered, yesterday the number was 175, later on - 196). In accordance with information for 11 o’clock in the morning 79 people were rescued. 12 people are officially registered perished.

By words of Rustam Minnikhanov 28 divers are operating at the accident site. In the nearest time more specialists will be attracted. Currently the major task is to organize efficient work of divers, RT President said. At 13 o’clock “Arabella” vessel will be at the tragedy site. Rest and living conditions for divers will be organized there.

Operations on searching for the missing people continue, rates of work will not decrease. It is necessary to examine every metre of the bank and nearest islands, R.Minnikhanov said, because people and used water crafts may be found there. A large group of RF Investigation committee and specialists of medicolegal investigation are operating at the accident site and in Kazan.

Rustam Minnikhanov gave assignment to create conditions for relatives coming to the place for getting information and corpse identification. He also charged I.Khalikov with organizing 24-hour work on transportation of the bodies for medicolegal investigation. Corpses will be given to relatives for burial.

Head of republic asked to define towns and regions where the lost lived so that administrations would render help to their families.

Deputy Minister of civil defence and emergency situations Nikolay Surzhko reported that the task was set to lift up as many corpses as possible within 5 hours. Operations will be planned for 24 hours and conditions for work at night will also be created. 377 people and 69 units of equipment are involved into operations at the accident site. The number of specialists will enlarge in the nearest time. 250 people of RF Ministry of emergency situations were attracted. By words of Nikolay Surzhko the bank line and 16 islands are divided into squares and are being searched. 36 psychologists are engaged in working with relatives of the lost and missing people.

Rescue operations continue.