Authorities said Friday they have identified the body of a Ukrainian who captained a fishing vessel that caught fire here, killing 11 people including nine who are believed to be Chinese citizens. The remains were identified by the navy as those of Nikola Horhkov, the Ukrainian captain of the «Simeiz,» which bore the flag of his country. But authorities said forensic experts were unable to immediately identify any other victims because the bodies were so badly burned, AP reported. Fire broke out early Wednesday about the 56-meter-long (184-foot-long) modern fishing vessel and sent towering columns of dense smoke over Montevideo harbor before the flames were fully put outni added that initial reports showed the Simeiz had spent the past six months fishing in South Atlantic waters when it arrived Monday in to offload approximately 200 tons of fish and change crews. Montevideo is a busy port for ships heading to and from fishing grounds off southernmost South America. On Friday, firefighters pumped water from the ship that was used to put out the blaze. Authorities said the fire swept about 40 percent of the ship but didn't reach the engine room or command deck. Authorities had to wait until flames were out Thursday to board the ship for fear that flammable refrigerants used in onboard freezers might explode.
