Survivors and families of the 852 victims of the 1994 sinking of the "Estonia" car ferry in the Baltic Sea marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy
Published:
30 September 2004 y., Thursday
Survivors and families of the 852 victims of the 1994 sinking of the "Estonia" car ferry in the Baltic Sea marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, calling for a new investigation into the cause of Europe's worst post-war maritime disaster.
Ceremonies were held in Sweden, Finland and Estonia, the countries hardest hit by the catastrophe that claimed victims from 17 different nations.
The Estonia sank on the night of September 27-28, 1994 off Finland's southwestern coast during a crossing from Tallinn to Stockholm. Only 137 of the 989 passengers and crew on board survived.
In Stockholm, the Foundation of the Estonia Victims and their Relatives, known by its Swedish acronym SEA, held a demonstration where members rejected the conclusions of the final investigation report and urged the Swedish government to launch a new inquiry.
Nearly 500 of those who perished were Swedish.
A joint Swedish-Finnish-Estonian commission concluded in 1997 that "weak locking devices of the bow visor" door, which had provided an entry point for cars and trucks to roll onto the ferry, had been the main cause of the tragedy.
When the locks ruptured, the outer bow door was ripped off and heavy seas gushed in, destabilizing the ship, according to the official report.
Swallowed by the sea in less than 50 minutes, the ship still lies at a depth of 80 meters (265 feet), a watery grave for the hundreds of people trapped inside the vessel when it went down.
Šaltinis:
AFP
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
For three days now these group of Venezuelan students have not eaten any food - they're staging a hunger strike against President Hugo Chavez.
more »
Contest challenges young people from Europe and beyond to find creative solutions to real-life problems.EU-sponsored contest challenges young people to think creatively.
more »
In time-honoured tradition it's time for Hamburg's swans to head to their winter quarters.
more »
On 24 November, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas will attend the ceremony during which the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Lithuania Tong Mingtao will hand over the aid to the residential care centre “Vilties Namai” in Vilnius.
more »
If your airline goes bankrupt and leaves you stuck what are your legal rights? Wednesday at midday a crucial vote will be held by MEPs in Strasbourg that could clear the way for the setting up of a compensation fund for stranded passengers.
more »
EU support for volunteering should be stepped up to €10 million, as part of the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship, said the Education and Culture Committee on Monday evening.
more »
Jacques Barrot and Luc Van den Brande to co-chair conference assessing the implementation of child rights by local and regional authorities.
more »
Europeans will soon have a new way of getting the commission to act on issues that concern them. But how will the new citizens’ initiative work in practice?
more »
In Ukraine local communities are directly affected by climate change impacts.
more »
Ageism is growing problem – or so most Europeans think.
more »