9 dead, more than 90 missing in Volga boat sinking

MOSCOW — Russian officials say nine bodies have been recovered from the Volga River after an overloaded cruise boat sank, but more than about 100 other people who were on the half-century-old vessel are still missing.

The two-deck cruise vessel was carrying 185 people — 148 of them passengers going for a scenic trip on Russia’s most famous river — when it sank on Sunday. The boat was certified to carry a maximum of 120 people.

A spokeswoman for Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, Yelena Smirnikh, said Monday that nine bodies have been found and 80 people rescued.

The boat sank in about 20 meters (65 feet) of water. The cause of the accident has not been determined.