KIEV (Sputnik) – The deputy minister’s statement published on the ministry website said preliminary data suggests the passenger load caused the motorboat to overturn.
"According to the Shipping Register, the motorboat had valid documents allowing it to carry 12 passengers and three crew members. However, the vessel went to sea with 33 passengers and three crew members," Vaskov said.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry places the death toll at 16 passengers, while the region’s governor, Mikheil Saakashvili, said on his Facebook page there were 12 confirmed dead and two unaccounted for.
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk ordered to set up a special commission to investigate the cause of the accident, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Hennadiy Zubko.
Saakashvili’s aide, Maria Gaidar, announced a day of mourning for Sunday, October 18.
