Head of the Investigative Committee instructed to report on the case of the tanker crash in the Kerch Strait

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin instructed to report on the investigation of the criminal case over the wreck of a tanker in the Kerch Strait. This was reported in the department on December 15.

"The Chairman of the IC of Russia instructed the head of the State Department of the IC of Russia in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol Terentyev V.N. to report on the progress of the investigation of criminal cases and the established circumstances of the incident", - stated in the Telegram-channel of the IC of Russia.

On the same day, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin created a working group to coordinate the work to eliminate the consequences of the emergency with tankers in the Kerch Strait. It will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev.

Breaking storm: two tankers in distress off the coast of Kerch

The powerful elements snapped both vessels in half

Tankers "Volgoneft-212" and "Volgoneft-239" crashed in the Kerch Strait earlier in the day. Strong squally wind and sea excitement of up to 7 points were recorded in the area. At first it was reported about the wreck of one vessel, later it became known about the damage of the second tanker.

Later it became known that the vessel "Volgoneft-212" ran aground, a few hours later the same happened to the "Volgoneft-239" near the port of Taman, Krasnodar Territory. During the rescue operation 13 people were evacuated from the first vessel, one of whom died. The crew of the second tanker, consisting of 14 people, remains on board and their evacuation is being prepared. Two criminal cases were opened over the incident, one of which was reclassified as more serious.

Alexei Kuznetsov, Assistant Minister of Health of Russia, said that 11 people were injured in the wreck of the tanker Volgoneft-212 in the Kerch Strait , two of them in serious condition. The victims were recorded to have hypothermia.