On 5 September 2009, the Ilinden sightseeing boat with a group of 57 tourists on board, of which 55 were Bulgarians, sank in Lake Ohrid, southwestern Republic of Macedonia. At least 15 or 19 people are reported dead.[1][2] The sinking of the Ilinden was the deadliest boat accident in the history of the Republic of Macedonia.[3]
Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake in the Balkans, with maximum depth of 288 metres (940 ft).[4] The Ilinden boat was taking tourists to the Saint Naum Monastery. The boat, made in 1924,[5] had a maximum capacity of 45 passengers.[1][2] It sank within four minutes, some 200 metres from the shore, in less than six meters of water [1]. The boat is said to have split in two around 10:30 AM local time,[1][2] in the vicinity of the Elešec camping site. Two other boats, the Alexandria and the Kristina, were nearby at the time and were able to assist the passengers of the Ilinden. Most of the tourists on board were senior citizens, many of whom were unable to swim. Victims were from Pirdop, Zlatitsa, Chelopech and particularly Anton.[6]
The Republic of Macedonia's top officials have arrived at the place of the accident. The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, has ordered that a Bulgarian government aeroplane bring the surviving Bulgarians back home.[1][2] Another aeroplane, a Bulgarian Air Force C-27J Spartan, is awaiting permission by the Republic of Macedonia to transport the corpses of the Bulgarian victims back The Minister of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of Macedonia has resigned over the accident.[
6 September was declared a national day of mourning in the Republic of Macedonia. Similarly, 7 September was declared a national day of mourning in Bulgaria and all official events related to the celebration of the Bulgarian unification on 6 September were cancelled.
Scotland played Macedonia at football in a qualification match for the world cup in South Africa. A minutes silence was observed before the game for those killed earlier in the day.
Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake in the Balkans, with maximum depth of 288 metres (940 ft).[4] The Ilinden boat was taking tourists to the Saint Naum Monastery. The boat, made in 1924,[5] had a maximum capacity of 45 passengers.[1][2] It sank within four minutes, some 200 metres from the shore, in less than six meters of water [1]. The boat is said to have split in two around 10:30 AM local time,[1][2] in the vicinity of the Elešec camping site. Two other boats, the Alexandria and the Kristina, were nearby at the time and were able to assist the passengers of the Ilinden. Most of the tourists on board were senior citizens, many of whom were unable to swim. Victims were from Pirdop, Zlatitsa, Chelopech and particularly Anton.[6]
The Republic of Macedonia's top officials have arrived at the place of the accident. The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, has ordered that a Bulgarian government aeroplane bring the surviving Bulgarians back home.[1][2] Another aeroplane, a Bulgarian Air Force C-27J Spartan, is awaiting permission by the Republic of Macedonia to transport the corpses of the Bulgarian victims back The Minister of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of Macedonia has resigned over the accident.[
6 September was declared a national day of mourning in the Republic of Macedonia. Similarly, 7 September was declared a national day of mourning in Bulgaria and all official events related to the celebration of the Bulgarian unification on 6 September were cancelled.
Scotland played Macedonia at football in a qualification match for the world cup in South Africa. A minutes silence was observed before the game for those killed earlier in the day.
THR SOURCE IS BBC
![[1]](http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46327000/jpg/_46327788_-36.jpg){kind=link}
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