ANKARA, Turkey: A cargo ship sank in rough waters off Turkey’s Black Sea coast on Monday, killing six crew members including its captain, officials and media reports said. Seven other crew members were rescued.
Turkish authorities launched a search and rescue mission off the Black Sea coastal province of Samsun after receiving a distress signal from the Panama-flagged vessel, Volgo Balt 214, the governor’s office said.
Samsun Gov. Osman Kaymak told reporters after visiting the survivors in hospital that six crew members, including the captain, died before rescuers could reach the area. He quoted one of the survivors as saying that the hull split into two after being hit by a powerful wave.
The vessel, which was carrying coal, was heading to Samsun from the Russian port of Azov, the coast guard said. It was located about 80 nautical miles (92 statute miles) from Samsun when it sent a distress signal at 8:10 a.m. (0510 GMT; 12:10 a.m. EST).
The crew included 11 Ukrainians and two Azerbaijan nationals, Kaymak said.
The Turkish Coast Guard said a plane, three helicopters and two boats took part in the rescue operation.
Cargo ship sinks off Turkey’s Black Sea coast; 6 dead
Cargo ship sinks off Turkey’s Black Sea coast; 6 dead
- The state-run Anadolu Agency said the vessel split into two during the sinking
- The Turkish Coast Guard said a plane, three helicopters and two boats were taking part in the rescue operation
Israel cuts off water and electricity to UNRWA in Jerusalem
- Israeli energy minister oversaw the execution of legislation passed at the end of 2025 to cut off water and electricity to UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem
LONDON: Israeli authorities cut off water and electricity to the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees located in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen visited UNRWA premises on Wednesday with workers from the water and waste company Hagihon to oversee the cessation of services.
“I arrived this morning to ensure that the water was cut off from the organization’s offices,” he told Israeli media.
Cohen was overseeing the execution of legislation passed at the end of 2025 to cut off water and electricity to UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem, following a decision in late 2024 to prevent the UN agency from operating in East Jerusalem and Israel.
In January, Israel forced UNRWA to evacuate its main office located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, after which it seized it and demolished it. Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, and Spain condemned the demolition.
UNRWA employs 12,000 staff in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, and its healthcare, education, and social protection services are essential for Palestinians, including those residing in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
