Russia on Tuesday mourned the victims of the tragic sinking of the Bulgaria cruise ship on the Volga river, while divers were still working underwater to salvage more bodies from the Volga river.

The confirmed death toll stood at 92, with most of the victims being children and women. The Russian Investigation Committee's updated information showed the boat had 192 people onboard.

THE MOURNING DAY

Russian TV and radio stations canceled entertainment and commercial programs during the national day of mourning as flags were flown at half mast across the country.

Flowers, candles and toys were presented at the central square and main embankment of Kazan, capital of Tatarstan republic, where the disaster happened.

A family member of a victim takes a rest at the rescue headquarters near the accident site in Tatarstan, July 12, 2011. Rescue work is still under way on Tuesday as the salvage operation of the sunken Bulgaria ship in Russia's Volga river entered the third day. The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed Tuesday that at least 88 people had died in Sunday's ship sinking tragedy. (Xinhua/Li Yong)
Boats on the waterway sounded their horns at noon Tuesday to mourn the victims, who had joined the ill-fated journey on a ship with a malfunctioning engine and a dangerously long passenger list but no voyage license.

Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin told a press briefing that as of 6:00 p.m. Moscow time Tuesday, 92 bodies have been found and 73 of them identified. Thirty-six bodies have been transferred for burial, he added.

Apart from the 79 survivors so far, 21 people remained missing and hopes for finding anyone still alive were fading.

Rescuers and divers were still fumbling in the 150-kilometer waterway, trying to find the missing or more bodies.

Spokesman for the Volga regions emergencies center Igor Panshin pledged that rescue operations would go on until all the missing are recovered.

Earlier Tuesday, local media reported that divers salvaged several children's bodies from a playroom in the lower hold of the boat, where up to 50 children might have been trapped at the time of sinking. However, citing a local rescue service spokesperson, Interfax news agency later reported that no children's body was found there.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Relatives of those who perished in the shipwreck have been transported to the spot where the rescue efforts are underway.

The Tatarstan republic has decided to compensate each family of those who perished with 300,000 rubles (about 10,700 U.S. dollars), Interfax reported. Those injured will receive 100,000 rubles ( about 3,570 dollars).

A rescue worker examines equipments near the accident site in Tatarstan, July 12, 2011. Rescue work is still under way on Tuesday as the salvage operation of the sunken Bulgaria ship in Russia's Volga river entered the third day. The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed Tuesday that at least 88 people had died in Sunday's ship sinking tragedy. (Xinhua/Li Yong)
Also on Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said to toughen regulations on transportation and called for harsh punishment for acts violating transport laws.

"This disaster disclosed at least substantial violations in the transport safety," the president told the State Duma, Russia's Lower House.

"Obviously, one cannot put a blind eye on this and tough measures are needed against those who violate transportation laws and those who put in jeopardy large number of people," Medvedev was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

He urged Duma members to pay special attention to the drafting of amendments to the applicable laws.

On the same day, the Russian Investigation Committee unveiled the names of the two vessels that passed by the Bulgaria ship but did not provide any help, saying that criminal cases have been launched against the two captains.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet