About 16 people are already found dead in the the Sea of Okhotsk after the overturning of an oil rig in the Russian Far East.

      The Kolskaya drilling rig sank on December 18 about 200 km (125 miles) off Russia's Sakhalin Island. According to preliminary data, it overturned during a severe storm, while 67 people were abroad. Rescues were able to save 14 of them, salvage operations still under way. 

      The drilling rig belongs to the Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka exploration company, which carried out work under a contract with energy giant Gazprom. The Gazprom spokesman said that the rig had fulfilled its works for Gazprom by the time of the accident and was heading for its base.

      According to investigators, the most possible cause of that catastrophe is violation of the towing rules in such a severe weather. Some experts say, gas-outlet pipes were broken and soon were supplied by the water. The drilling rig took a list and then sank for 20 minutes. 

      The regional emergencies service has said the accident poses no threat to the environment. On December the rescuers found four rafts and one lifeboat but they all were empty. 

Sources: RIA Novosti Lenta.ru Image: Ridus.ru