SAKHALIN, Russia — A dramatic rescue operation unfolded on the icy waters off Sakhalin island in the Russian Far East on Sunday, as at least 75 individuals were saved after being stranded on a detached ice floe.
Sakhalin, the largest island of Russia, is a sprawling 621-mile landmass situated off the eastern coast of Russia and just above Japan.
According to emergency services, a massive 50-meter ice floe unexpectedly broke away near the village of Starodubskoye in the Sea of Okhotsk, which lies between Russia and Japan. This incident left over 80 fishermen marooned about a kilometer from the shore.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with the support of a Mi-8 helicopter from the ministry.
Local emergency services initially received reports on Sunday morning indicating that a group of fishermen, numbering more than a dozen, were stranded on the ice floe.
In response, rescue teams were promptly dispatched by car and motorboat to the scene.
Although Sakhalin is not a popular tourist destination, it is not unusual for individuals to find themselves trapped on ice floes in this region of Russia.
The island has witnessed a surge in visitors in recent years, primarily due to the expansion of offshore oil and gas fields.
As per the reports from Russian state media RIA Novosti, in 2020, a total of 536 ice fishermen were rescued from an ice floe that had detached from the shore near Mordvinov Bay on Sakhalin.
Agree – Scores saved from ice floe entrapment is a miraculous feat of rescue and teamwork.
Agree – Incredible teamwork and skill shown in this rescue operation. #miraculousfeat