Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry evacuated 139 fishermen from an ice sheet that broke off from Sakhalin Island in the western Pacific on Wednesday.
The ice sheet detached after a 33-foot (10-meter) crack formed between the village of Malki and the mouth of the Dolinka River.
Eyewitnesses said the crack appeared suddenly, reaching 10 meters wide within minutes. While some fishermen managed to jump across and remain on land, the rest drifted away on the ice floe — many with their cars and snowmobiles, according to the Telegram channel Shot.
Emergency officials used helicopters and hovercraft to ferry the stranded fishermen to safety in small groups.
Videos posted by the Emergency Situations Ministry show men being loaded onto a helicopter for evacuation. In one video, fishermen can be heard refusing to leave without their catch.
Authorities initially reported that 300 fishermen were on the ice but later revised the number down to 139.
The Sakhalin regional branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry said authorities had warned residents against venturing onto the ice.
A similar incident occurred in February 2024, when 82 fishermen were stranded on an ice sheet that broke off near the village of Starodubovskoye and drifted about half a mile out to sea.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
