AKIPRESS.COM - Police are investigating the shocking drownings of up to 14 children who were out in rafts on a lake in northwest Russia despite a storm warning.

Karelia, where the tragedy took place, and Moscow, where the victims were from, have declared a day of mourning, RT reports.

The bodies have been flown to Moscow, where they will be identified on Monday.

Earlier, the head of the Republic of Karelia, Aleksandr Khudilaynen, said that 13 children have been confirmed dead and one was unaccounted for. Khudilaynen spoke at an operational meeting early on Monday.

Investigators say there were 47 children and four adults on board the vessels: two boats and one raft. All of them were from the Park-Hotel Syamozero summer camp located on Lake Syamozero, not far from the border with Finland.

A total of 37 people from the three boats survived the incident, according to the Emergencies Ministry. Up to 350 rescuers were working at the scene.