Death Toll from 'Bulgaria' Ship Disaster Climbs to 120

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 in the afternoon on July 10. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The bodies of six more people have been pulled out from the cruiser ship named "Bulgaria", which sank July 10 in the Tatarstan region of Russia's Volga river, taking the death toll from Russia's worst shipping disaster up to 120.

Two more people whose names appeared on the Bulgaria boat's crew and passenger list were still unaccounted for and presumed dead, Interfax quoted a local emergencies ministry official as saying.

The cruise boat, which was partly raised this week and taken to shallow waters, is believed to have had problems with one of the engines. Besides it was overcrowded and operated without a proper license.

Investigators have arrested the tour operator and a local licensing official as they launched a criminal probe.

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 in the afternoon on July 10.

There were 173 people onboard when the boat went down.

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.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!