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Documentary film should provide new evidence of the sinking of the Estonia

2020-09-28T19:14:39.073Z


The circumstances of the "Estonia" shipwreck of 1994 are still unclear. A film team now claims to have discovered a huge hole in the hull of the wreck - this could lead to new investigations.


Icon: enlarge

1994: Part of the sunk "Estonia" is recovered from the bottom of the Baltic Sea

Photo: Jaakko Aiikainen / Lehtikuva / AP

It has been 26 years since the Baltic Sea ferry "Estonia" sank - causing what is probably the worst European shipping disaster since the Second World War.

Now there should be new evidence in the case: Documentary filmmakers have apparently found a four meter hole in the wreck of the sunken "Estonia".

This was reported by several Scandinavian media on the 26th anniversary of the devastating accident.

Estonia called for a new investigation into the sinking.

Also on Monday, the streaming platform Dplay published a corresponding five-part documentary series entitled "Estonia - fyndet som ändrar allt" (Estonia - The find that changes everything).

Accordingly, the filmmakers sent a diving robot down to the wreck.

As the pictures published by the Swedish "Aftonbladet" showed, a previously unknown hole four meters high and 1.20 meters wide was discovered in the ship's hull during the action on the starboard side.

Icon: enlarge

The documentary "Estonia - The find that changed everything" is supposed to show a hole in the hull of the sunken ship

Photo: - / AFP

In 2000, an expert report indicated that an explosion could have led to the sinking of the "Estonia".

The "Estonia" sank on the night of September 28, 1994 with 989 people on board on her way from Tallinn to Stockholm.

Halfway along the way, water suddenly penetrated the ship - how exactly it came about has been argued for years.

852 people died in the devastating accident, including more than 500 Swedes and five Germans.

The bodies were only recovered from 94 dead.

Despite promises to the contrary by the Swedish government, the wreck was never lifted.

Instead, the ferry was declared a burial place for the remaining victims by law.

To date, more than 750 victims lie with the shipwreck off the southern coast of Finland on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

Estonia's Prime Minister, Jüri Ratas, spoke of significant new information given the new underwater footage that had not previously been discussed and required a clear answer.

"A new technical investigation into the new circumstances of the 'Estonia' needs to be carried out," he said.

Estonia would lead the process as the ship's flag state.

Both Ratas and Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu emphasized that an investigation would take into account the tombs imposed over the ferry.

"It is our wish that the truth definitely comes to light," said Ratas.

A joint statement by the foreign ministers of Estonia, Finland and Sweden sounded somewhat more cautious: the new information had been taken note of and was now being evaluated.

But you rely on the official investigation report from 1997. According to the report, the torn off bow visor was the cause of the sinking.

Nevertheless, there is still speculation about the cause of the accident, survivors and bereaved relatives have been calling for the investigations to be restarted for years.

Icon: The mirror

lmd / dpa

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2020-09-28

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