A cargo ship sank off Turkey’s Black Sea coast, near northern Bartin province, on Sunday, leaving at least three dead, according to Turkish state media.
Emergency workers rescued at least six of the 12 crew members on the Arvin ship, according to Sinan Guner, Bartin’s governor, cited by state agency Anadolu. Helicopters were sent to aid efforts, said Guner.
Civilian ships were asked to aid rescue efforts near the Inkumu district, Guner said, but the operation was complicated by bad weather. The Defense Ministry also said it had dispatched a ship to assist with evacuation efforts, local media reported.
“There are reports that three other crew members were seen standing on the rocks. We are trying to reach them by land, ”said Guner.
Mr Guner told the private news agency DHA that the 46-year-old ship broke in two and sank at around 12:20 pm. Crew members tried to get into life rafts, but some jumped into the sea with life jackets. agency said.
The ship was bound for the port of Burgas in Bulgaria, said Anadolu, citing Turkey’s Ministry of Transport. He had left Poti, Georgia, days before.
The ship had the flag of Palau and was owned by Ukrainians, local media reported, and its crew consisted of 10 Ukrainians and two Russians.
The ministry said the ship was docked at Bartin’s port on Friday due to bad weather.
Video shared by Agência Anadolu showed the ship, visible from the beach, being rocked by the waves.