Search For Sailors Gone Missing After Kerch Strait Tanker Fire Continues - Authorities

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2019) Search operation for 10 sailors that went missing after a fire broke out on two Tanzania-flagged tankers in the Kerch Strait are ongoing, the Russian Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transportation (Rosmorrechflot) told Sputnik on Tuesday.

According to preliminary information, the fire broke out on Monday during the transfer of the liquefied natural gas from one vessel to another. Rosmorrechflot has previously said that a total of 32 people were on board the two tankers.

Eleven of them were said to be dead, 12 were rescued and nine were reported missing.

"The operation has moved to the stage of searching. According to updated data, 12 people were rescued, 10 died, the search for another 10 sailors continues," the agency's press service said.

At the same time, the Novorossiysk Rescue Command Center told Sputnik that rescuers were waiting for the liquefied natural gas to burn out to be able to extinguish the fire.� �