Azerbaijan: Fishing Boat Catastrophe on Caspian Averted

Azerbaijani rescuers on March 12 saved 15 Russians from a fishing boat that caught fire on the stormy Caspian Sea, local news services reported.

The Caucasus country's Ministry of Emergency Situations rushed its maritime fire brigade to the aid of the sinking vessel after receiving a distress signal at around noon on March 12, the APA news agency reported.

The rescuers found the boat, the MRS Kayekend, on fire and half-submerged. All 15 members of the crew were floating in rafts amid high waves, according to a statement issued by Azerbaijan's ministry. After a two-hour operation, all 15 men were rescued.

Responding to the SOS signal, two other ships from Azerbaijan's oil fleet also arrived on the scene to rescue the fishermen. The fire on the fishing boat was extinguished, the RIA-Novosti news agency said.