Can the information in the news bulletin about the boating tragedy in F. Y. R.O. M. really be true?

YES....Hellenic Radio had this to say about the incident:

At least 17 people were drowned Saturday when a tourist boat sank suddenly in FYROM's popular Lake Ohrid, local media said. Two more people are feared drowned. Fifty three people were pulled to safety after the boat capsized some 200 metres from shore.

The captain of the Iliden was among the dead, Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said, adding that the vessel was carrying "a group of Bulgarian tourists and their guide".

FYROM's state-run television said the boat was licensed to carry up to 43 passengers, however, 53 passengers were on board. The causes of the accident remain sketchy.

The FYROM administration expressed its sorrow over the accident, while the Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister rushed to the site to facilitate the transfer of the dead Bulgarians.

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Yes it is true as it was broadcasted in the US News. The boat was built in 1924. It had capacity to carry 40 people, but the Fyromians were able to stuff 70 people in the boat (very tragic), thus resulting to a needles loss of lives due to third world conditions. My condolences to all the families for their loss .

see at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090905/ts_afp/macedo...

This tragedy could have been prevented if FYROM was part of EU and had to apply with codes and regulations of the EU.

I see no trolls anwering this question. Truth hurts!

I saw the video and the survivors talking about it at noon's Greek tv news.

So, yes it's true. I heard about how old the ship was and i was shocked..(since, from what i've seen it's not of that kind of well-preserved ships that are there just to give another kind of aura from another time to a trip.Plus it was overloaded.)

But why is this question here?

Other Europe section would be more appropriate.

*i have a hunch that the Fyromians will blame us for the boat accident too! Wanna bet?*

That's what i heard too. It was build in 1924 in Germany.

Now there is misunderstanding on the passeger regulation number.

Usually that is much smaller that the actual capacity of the vessel and it is dictated (usually) by the number of seats installed.

So really tha fact that were 10 more people on it did not cause the accident.

That it was older than my grandmother, and poorely maintained is definetelly the problem.

I ve heard the same too.I dont know if its true.

The fact is that some people died for no reason and this is a terrible incident.

tragedy.....

My conndolences to the families...

Yes i agree that is what happens when you go on vacation in a third world country it would of been better to go to Greece.

It is a sad and enormous tragedy.

Apparently the skipper was only 23 yrs.old with not a

lot of experience.

The transport minister has also offered his resignation.