2 Dead, Over 90 Missing after 'Bulgaria' Cruiser Sinks in Volga

At least two persons died and 96 people went missing after a cruiser ship named "Bulgaria" sank in the Volga River on Sunday afternoon.

The boat carrying over 170 people sank in the Tatarstan region of Russia's Volga river.

"Two bodies had been recovered and 96 people were unaccounted for after the Bulgaria sank," a spokeswoman for Emergency Ministry said, as cited by international agencies.

"We don't know yet why it sank. There were 140 passengers and 33 staff. Two were found dead, a passing boat saved some people. Ninety six are unaccounted for," she said.

The Bulgaria sank in the middle of the river in the Volga region near the village of Syukeyevo in the Kansko-Ustinovsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan on Sunday afternoon.

There were 173 people onboard when the boat went down.

A helicopter and two rescue boats are currently working on the scene of the incident.

The cruiser ship, which belongs to a local tourism company, was traveling from the town of Bolgar to the regional capital, Kazan.

The double-deck ship was built in Czechoslovakia in 1955 and its maximum capacity was 140 passengers.

The cruise ship had two restaurants, a bar, a music lounge, a beach deck and 1, 2, 3 and 4-seat cabins and one luxurious cabin.

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