Whale-watching trip turns tragic as boat capsizes in Barents Sea VIDEO

In the Murmansk region, a whale-watching excursion in the Barents Sea ended in a harrowing incident when a small boat carrying tourists capsized amid rough seas and adverse weather.

Despite warnings and restrictions due to the dangerous conditions, the boat set out from the village of Teriberka on November 27, Caliber.Az reports citing Interfax.

According to the North-West Transport Prosecutor's Office, the vessel overturned, throwing all passengers into the icy waters. “All were taken to the shore. The circumstances of the accident are being established,” the office reported.

Russian media revealed that the passengers, including five children, were not equipped with life jackets during the voyage. All individuals were rescued and are now under medical evaluation. The prompt response of rescue teams was instrumental in averting fatalities, as officials from EMERCOM emphasized the grave risk posed by icy waters, where survival time can be as short as five minutes.

The excursion’s goal was to spot whales, but eyewitnesses reported that no whales had been seen in the area for the past two months. Despite this, the organizers assured passengers that, based on their forecasts, whales were expected that day.

The Murmansk Transport Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities are examining potential violations, including the decision to proceed with the trip under unsafe conditions and the lack of mandatory safety equipment.

By Tamilla Hasanova