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Russian Emergency Ministry / EPA
Crews reach the area in Sakhalin, Russia, where they rescued 675 fishermen.
MOSCOW -- 675 fishermen have quite the story about the one that got away -- the ice floe, not the fish. Turns out they were all on an ice floe along a beach on Sakhalin, an island in Russia's far east, when the floe separated and started taking them out to sea on Sunday.
Within six hours of the first report, emergency services had rescued all 675 using two helicopters, eight ships and a hovercraft in the Sea of Okhotsk.
One of the rescued fishermen, Vladimir Vasilenko, said they should have known better than to go out on such a day.
"Of course the wind was blowing from the shore. We should have thought that something could happen, but people were going and we went as well," he said in a televised interview. "We also heard on the radio that it was the last chance for fishermen, and so we went fishing.".
None of the rescued ice fishermen required medical treatment.
Ice fishermen routinely get stranded on ice floes in Russia, especially in the spring as the temperatures rise. But Sunday's operation was unusual in the high number that had to be rescued.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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We usually go out to sea to fish in our boats. They use ice floes in Russia. That's why we don't live in Russia. LOL
Hmmm...an unprecedented number of fishermen on an ice floe. Surprised there hasn't been a call for culling fishermen.
We hear about this every year in Russia, but 675 people has got to be the largest number I have heard of. Ice fishing is big in MN too. Every year several people venture out with their car or truck and break through the ice, (big DNR fines and huge towing bills follow). I'll do my fishing in the summer, thank you.
should have let em freeze ! idiots !
Really???? Forget to take your meds?
Are you sure this isn't just an april fool joke? It sounds like too many people, for this to really happen!
@Weeee-994844 They should be left to die in freezing temperatures because they risked their lives trying to make enough cash to feed themselves and/or their families? Some sick people in this world.....
I live in Northern Minnesota. Sitting on a frozen lake 15 degrees below zero and staring down a dark hole hoping for a fish is'nt my idea of a good time. If I want fish, I go to Cub :)
"Hey, couseen! Why not we go fishing today?"
"I don't know. Let's go fishing."
X 675= Holy Cow!
I learned long ago it's much easier (and in fact, just as satisfying) to walk up to the counter, point to the one I want, and tell the man to wrap it up. He even has some without any bones or guts to clean out!
You guys are not real fishermen. You should understand that for many in Russia fishing is more than just a way of life, it's a religion. My second cousin would probably be on that chunk of ice if he lived there. BTW, you don't need a licence to fish unless u r a commercial fisherman. All you need is a rod, bait, few friends, a nice beverage and you are guaranteed a great time.
Alot cheaper also bridgeman!
I think the term "runaway" is a bit much. At about 1 mile a day, it's more like a "crawlaway".
I guess Ice Flo's would be safer than Cruise Ships. just sayin
Can you imagine if the ice berg would have hit the Titanic ? Now there's irony. Putin probably chopped the ice. You can't vote, if you're not there. Besides he can't resist a good piece of ice !
ice fishing trip powered by STOLI
I have to comment on why Russian business's would allow their workers to do this...OH>>>YEAH RIGHT...I forgot for a moment that Russia doesn't care about their own peoples lives. My apologies, all. I was thinking these peoples lives mattered. This is Russia, after all, who never has, and never will care.
I wonder if they caught any fish ?
Very fortunate that Sarah Palin had her radar up.
Her neighbors could have been seriously injured or killed.
So glad she can see Russia from her house.
"I will transmit this information to Vladimir" (Dmitry Medvedev, after learning that Obama will have "more flexibility" in freely giving away our classified missile defense secrets to this major supporter of Iran)
The author of this story does not have his facts in place and should do a better job of research before reporting to the millions of readers. I know this because I was on that ice floe in the Sea of Okhotsk and was one of the rescued fishermen, Vladimir Vasilenko. And no to commentor: Semiagreeable, " We did not catch any fish "
What did happen was I caught a mammal and the largest I have ever seen, bigger than Moby Dick.
And that was what dragged us out to sea.
APRIL FOOLS
glad everyone is safe
Hey Rightdx11, The U.S. isn’t sharing any secret data on missile defense with Russia, Ryabkov said. This is how rumors get started. Right "wing nuts" will believe anything their idiot brothers tell them. Next time read the "whole" story and get the facts before going off at the mouth.
I'm commenting on something that has no importance to me.
bravo!
675 in Russia, 200 in Latvia. Better to go get your fish at the market, guys.
They all used to go buy their fish at the market. It smelled fishy and tasted fishy. Well they all knew fresh fish doesn't smell fishy or taste fishy. They all agreed to take the risk and hopefully eat some fish that smelled like the sea and tasted like heaven.Morale of the story= Don't eat nasty fishy smelling fish unless your stranded on a ice berg.