Uzbekistan, Tashkent, July 12 / Trend D. Azizov /
Uzbek President Islam Karimov has expressed his condolences to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian people in connection with the tragedy that occurred on the Volga River.
"The news of the heavy human loss caused by a crash of the Bulgaria ship has been a source of great sorrow to me," President Islam Karimov said in his message. "I offer sincere condolences to you, families and relatives of the dead and all the people of Russia."
Around 71 people were killed, including 30 children, in the sinking of a Russian cruise vessel on the Volga River. About 79 people were rescued.
Over 200 people had been on board the river cruise ship "Bulgaria" when it went down in a storm.
Many of the dead were found inside their cabins, but also in the ship's restaurant and bar.
The Bulgaria, built in then-Czechoslovakia in 1955, went down near the town of Syukyevo, about 80 kilometres from the Tatarstan capital of Kasan.
Tatarstan's government called a day of mourning for Tuesday to commemorate the victims.