Boat Ilinden sank in Ohrid lake
05.09.2009
A sightseeing boat sank in Lake Ohrid in south-western Macedonia.
According to announcement by the Macedonian government, the first assumptions of the boat accident were overload and significantly more passengers than usual.Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski went to Ohrid to visit the place of the accident.
The captain of the boat said there was a "loud crack" before the boat sank, police say.
Police have described the incident as "an enormous tragedy". Lake Ohrid is Macedonia's best known tourist resort.
Macedonia (13) -- Analyses -- 2009
Reasons and Consequences
05.09.2009
At least 15 Bulgarian tourists died in the sinking of boat "Ilinden" in the Ohrid Lake, along with five injured and 50 survivors.
According to unofficial sources, the boat was transferring over 70 passengers, mostly Bulgarian tourists. Rescue crews came immediately at the place of the accident.
Ilinden ship, transferred tourists towards monastery St. Naum, sank around 11 o’clock about 200 meters from the shore of Lake Ohrid.
Speed boat, which passed nearby the accident, went right away at the place of the accident.
So far, the reason for the accident seems to be the break of the hawser, maintaining the boat balance, team experts said.
Bulgarian