Rescuers continue to search for survivors of Bulgarian cargo vessel Vanessa, which shipwrecked in the Azov Sea on Thursday.

The search was renewed after weather in the region slightly improved on Saturday.

Rescuers reported that a life raft was spotted near the shore close to the Crimean village of Salyona but they found no sailors on it after the raft was finally reached.

Two dead bodies have already been identified and only one of the 11 crewmembers aboard Vanessa was saved.

According to doctors, the life of mechanic Nikolay Dimitrov is out of danger and his health condition is good despite spending 11 hours in the ice-cold waters before he was rescued on Thursday.

On Friday Ukrainian officials reported Vanessa had refused proposed help after the deadly storm started. The owner of the ship, Board Marine Burgas Company called the accusations "ridiculous".

Vanessa shipwrecked near the Kerch Strait just 22 nautical miles from the Gulf of Kerch. The area is very tricky during the winter season, with several Russian ships sinking there last month during a storm.

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