Gross overload, lack of safety equipment and numerous technical problems, including engine and radio malfunctions, were the reasons why the Bulgaria cruise ship sank on the Volga River last month, killing 122, the Investigative Committee said Friday.
The on the agency's web site did not elaborate on the malfunctions, but said the vessel, which was certified to transport up to 156 people, actually had 201 on board, including crew and passengers. Seventy-nine of them survived, picked up by another cruise ship passing nearby.
The victims include 28 children, the committee said, adding that only one dead body remains unidentified, pending DNA testing.
The agency said it reported on its preliminary findings after finishing the examination of the Bulgaria, which was brought to the surface and docked after the incident.
The statement identified no suspects, but said investigators will now look into the actions of the crew, the ship's owners and leasers, as well as officials who authorized it for operation despite technical problems.
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