500 seamen stranded in icebound Russian ships - USATODAY.com

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian icebreaker is laboring through howling winds and heavy snow as it tries to reach icebound ships in the Sea of Okhotsk where more than 500 seamen are trapped.

Three of the vessels have been trapped since Friday in ice estimated at two meters (6 1/2 feet) thick. The state news agency RIA Novosti said two more ships became stuck Monday.