A rescue team saved 19 others who had been on a speed boat stuck in ice 15 kilometers off Russia's Pacific Coast.
A sudden and sharp drop in temperature, accompanied by severe wind and heavy snow, trapped several fishermen in ice near the city of Amursk, about 6,200 kilometers east of Moscow.
The harsh weather has hampered rescue efforts, Itar-Tass said. Helicopters were able to take off Thursday, but with several small boats still unaccounted for, officials expected the death toll from the freezing weather to rise.
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