All 128 passengers have been evacuated by hovercraft from a river passenger vessel that ran aground on the Lena River in Eastern Russia's Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on Wednesday, October 21.
The Lenatrans-owned ferry Moskovsky-11 grounded about 700 metres from shore while sailing from Namyv station in Yakutsk to Nizhny Bestyakh, according to the East Siberian Transport Prosecutor's Office. No passengers or crew were injured.
The Yakutia Rescue Service said the evacuees included 40 children. Multiple hovercraft made a total of 13 trips to bring them ashore.
One hovercraft was provided by the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels and three were supplied by private individuals.
The ferry has since come free and moored at the shore of Yakutsk's 203rd microdistrict, the rescue service added.
The regional emergencies ministry said 28 personnel and six units of equipment were initially deployed to the scene, where there was no precipitation and the air temperature was −3°C. Six regional rescuers took part alongside small vessel inspectors and rescuers from the federal emergencies ministry's Yakutia directorate.
The Yakutsk Transport Prosecutor's Office has opened a review of compliance with navigation safety legislation and passengers' rights. Russia's Investigative Committee has also organised a preliminary inquiry under Article 238 of the Criminal Code, which covers services that do not meet safety requirements.
Investigators reported no environmental damage.
The regional transport ministry said a connecting train at Nizhny Bestyakh was held at the station for passengers continuing their journeys by rail.