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15 dead as boat sinks in Macedonia lake

Sunday, September 06, 2009 OHRID: An ageing tourist boat sank suddenly in Macedonia's popular Lake Ohrid on Saturday, killing 15 people, mostly Bulgarians, as survivors clung to wooden planks and buoys, officials said. The Iliden was 200 metres (220 yards) from shore when it apparently capsized into the deepest lake in the region -- famous for its turquoise waters -- at around 11:00 am (0900 GMT) near a campground outside Ohrid city. "More than 70 passengers were on the boat," Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska told reporters. "Fifteen perished, four seriously injured were taken to hospital in Ohrid and about 50 survivors are at a local hotel." The captain of the Iliden was among the dead, Jankulovska said, adding that the vessel was carrying "a group of Bulgarian tourists and their Macedonian guide". Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said 12 Bulgarians including a child were among the dead. The three other bodies have yet to be identified. One survivor said the boat sank suddenly and that there were not enough life jackets for everybody. "The boat swerved sharply and capsized. It started to sink instantly and everybody tried to save their lives the way they could," the survivor identified as Ivan told Bulgarian radio."They grabbed wooden planks and life buoys, but there were not enough buoys and not enough life saving jackets for everybody," he said.

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