Support The Moscow Times!

Fishermen Drown After Van Sinks Under Ice of Lake Baikal

Two men drowned in the world's largest freshwater lake by volume, Siberia's Lake Baikal, after they drove out onto the ice on an early springtime fishing trip and their van plunged through the surface, Russian authorities said Thursday.

When the men failed to return home, rescuers embarked Monday on what would become a three-day search, the Emergency Situations Ministry said in an online statement.

Rescuers followed vehicle tracks that led them to the spot where the fishermen's UAZ van had sunk to the bottom of the lake about two kilometers from the shore. The windshield was broken and the doors were open, the statement said.

The first man's body was brought to the surface on Wednesday night, and the second on Thursday morning. The men had been fishing with nets about 18 kilometers from the shore, and their vehicle had apparently fallen through the ice on their way back to dry land.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more