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
Syria strongly condemns terrorist attack near Palmyra
- Palmyra in the Homs countryside witnessed an armed attack targeting a joint patrol of Syrian security forces and US forces
DAMASCUS: Syria strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a joint patrol of Syrian security forces and US forces near the city of Palmyra on Saturday, extending its condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the US government and people, the Syrian News Agency reported.
Earlier, Palmyra in the Homs countryside witnessed an armed attack targeting a joint patrol of Syrian security forces and US forces during a field tour in the area.
A gunman opened fire on the patrol, resulting in the deaths of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter, in addition to injuring three US soldiers and two Syrian security personnel.
“Syria strongly condemns the terrorist attack that targeted a joint Syrian-US counterterrorism patrol near Palmyra. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the US government and people, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani said in a post on platform X.
