Latest updates indicate that the ice floe, which broke away near the settlement of Starodubskoye in the southern part of Sakhalin, has added roughly fifty people to the number in distress. The information came from the regional press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. Rescue teams continue their work as weather and sea conditions permit, and authorities are coordinating efforts to reach anyone still stranded on the floe or along the shoreline with searching and medical support ready if needed.
By noon, the situation had shifted toward a more hopeful phase. Officials reported that twenty-one individuals had already been brought to shore, with rescue operations ongoing to account for everyone else and ensure their safety. The authorities stressed that the day’s missions included close monitoring of the ice’s stability and any sudden changes that could pose further risks to rescuers and civilians alike.
Specialist units have been dispatched by motor boat to the area around Starodubskoye, where the incident occurred. At the same time, the National Emergencies Service announced that a Mi-8 helicopter attached to the ministry would join the response team in the early afternoon, aiming to extend reach across the affected zone and deliver essential supplies to those who remain on or near the ice. The deployment of air assets is part of a broader strategy to speed up the search and rescue operation while reducing exposure for ground crews.
In the early stages, the ministry reported that intelligence about the ice mass’s potential failure had been received earlier in the day. Initial information suggested there were fourteen fishermen on the surface at the time of the event. The response involved a combination of boats, snowmobiles, and other available equipment to support their rapid and adaptive deployment across the challenging terrain and weather conditions typical of the Sakhalin coastline during late winter.
From the outset, rescuers—alongside regional emergency workers from the Dolinsky district and a dedicated search-and-rescue team named after Polyakov—mobilized to the scene. The operation drew on a broad network of responders, with teams coordinating cross-divisionally to track survivor locations, manage medical triage, and maintain a steady flow of information to keep families informed and authorities prepared to adjust plans as new data emerged. The collective effort illustrates the ongoing commitment to safeguarding lives in remote and hazardous maritime environments, where rapid response and careful risk management are crucial to success, even under continually changing conditions.