Overload Deemed Most Likely Culprit for Ohrid Tragedy

Members of a special combined team of Croatian and Macedonian divers inspect the sunken vessel in Ohrid Lake, Macedonia 19 September 2009 two weeks after a tragic boat accident in which 15 Bulgarian tourists lost their lives. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The overloading of the tour boat "Ilinden" is listed by Macedonian authorities as the initial, most likely cause for the September 5 tragedy in Ohrid.

23-year-old boat captain, Sotir Filefski, allowed 56 passengers on board while the capacity was 43.

Filefski is in custody and other people will be charged if proven guiltily, Macedonian officials say.

A second inspection of the ship is scheduled for Sunday. It will be conducted by investigators from Macedonia and Bulgaria, along with nautical experts.

Ilinden, which sank in Lake Ohrid in Macedonia on September 5 leading to the death of 15 Bulgarian tourists, was taken out of the waters of Lake Ohrid Saturday, two weeks after the tragedy.

The Bulgarian investigator, who is taking part in the probe, Georgi Iliev, said that they were six main versions as to the cause of the accident, adding all survivors, who witnessed the tragic event, are going to be interrogated.

Iliev praised his Macedonian colleagues for fully collaborating with the Bulgarian investigation. The first results are expected to be announced later Sunday.

The operation, conducted by a Croatian company, had, reportedly, been flawless, and the ship had not suffered any further damage during its removal from the waters, something that is deemed extremely important for the investigation.

 

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