An offshore drilling rig with 76 people on board overturned in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East on Sunday, the local emergency services reported.
Nine people have been rescued, a spokeswoman for the regional branch of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.
A Far Eastern emergency center received a SOS signal from the platform earlier on Sunday. A rescue helicopter, an icebreaker and a rescue ship have been sent to the area.
The rescue operation is under way amid severe weather conditions, with waves up to four meters high and winds of 70 kilometers per hour in the area.
There were 43 crew members and 33 passengers on board the rig, all of whom were wearing diving suits and lifejackets, rescuers said.
