BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday extended condolences to his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, over Sunday's ship sinking accident in the Volga river.

Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, mourned those killed in the accident and expressed sympathy to the families of the victims.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, on the same day, sent condolences to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin over the tragedy.

A Soviet-era Russian cruise ship sank in the Volga river Sunday, killing at least 48 people. Nearly 80 others were still missing.