Spanish rescuers give details of evacuation of sailors from sunken Russian vessel

14 people were evacuated from the wrecked Russian ship Ursa Major in the Mediterranean Sea and taken to the Spanish city of Cartagena. This was reported to Izvestia on December 24 by the Spanish Maritime Search and Rescue Agency.

According to the agency, the alarm signal from the ship came on December 23 when it was 57 miles off the coast of the Spanish city of Almeria. Ursa Major relayed information to another ship that the vessel was tilted to starboard due to difficult weather conditions, and it was also learned that a lifeboat had been launched.

It was clarified that a helicopter, the Draco lifeboat and the vessel Clara Campoamor were mobilized and sent to the area of the incident.

"After locating the lifeboat, the Draco successfully evacuated the 14 people on board and transported them to Cartagena. According to those rescued, the cargo consisted of empty containers in the hold and two cranes on deck," the agency said.

A Russian warship later arrived in the area of the wreck and took charge of the rescue operation after Spanish authorities handed it the task.

At the moment, other maritime rescue services are working near the Ursa Major wreck site and removing floating objects that could pose a danger to other vessels and the environmental situation at sea.

The wreck of the Russian vessel Ursa Major in the Mediterranean Sea became known earlier in the day. According to media reports, the ship left St. Petersburg 12 days ago and was on its way to Vladivostok, where it was supposed to arrive on January 12. As a result of the incident, two people were missing, 14 crew members were rescued.

The Russian embassy in Spain later said it was investigating the causes of the Ursa Major wreck.