At least 54 people are dead after a Russian trawler sank in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s far east Wednesday.

Emergency officials say 63 of 132 people aboard the ship were rescued after the Dalniy Vostok sank in icy waters near Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula. Fifteen people are still missing. Officials say the ship sank in a mere 15 minutes, with the water temperature near the freezing mark.

The most seriously injured were being airlifted to the city of Magadan, some 250 kilometers to the north.

At least 14 local fishing vessels are helping with the search and rescue mission.

The ship was carrying an international crew. In addition to Russians, it included nationals from Myanmar, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Vanuatu.

The cause of the accident is still not known, although investigators say the ship may have hit an object in the water.
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