ST. PETERSBURG, March 10 (RIA Novosti) - Rescuers have saved eight out of 23 fishermen drifting on three ice floes toward the Gulf of Finland in northwestern Russia, a rescue service official said.
The fishermen's health is out of danger, the source said.
"Another 15 people remain on the ice drifting toward the Gulf of Finland, a rescue helicopter has been sent to the site," the official said.
Rescuers received a report about the drifting fishermen Saturday morning.
Despite warnings from rescue services, catching fish from ice-holes remains a favorite pastime for Russian fishermen in winter. The latest incident occurred on the Volga in mid-January when rescuers saved more than 60 fishermen stranded on drifting ice.
