Boats Capsized 14 Dead

The weather forecast for the weekend was so severe that even experienced fishermen had stayed away from the lake in recent days, locals said.

Not less than fourteen children and their adult instructor have died after their boats capsized in stormy weather during an outing in Russia.

They were travelling on a lake in the country's northwest, not far from the border with Finland, when bad weather hit on Saturday night.

An instructor has been detained for questioning amid allegations that the children were not wearing life jackets.

Most of the victims were aged between 12 and 15 and had been attending a summer camp nearby.

It is believed many of the children died from long exposure to cold water, as temperatures in the lake are only 8C to 10C (46F to 50F) at this time of year.

Lake Syamozero is a popular holiday destination, but local officials had been warning visitors not to go boating because of an advancing cyclone from the Atlantic.

The victims were among 47 children and four adults who were on the trip.