A Russian-flagged cargo ship sank in the Black Sea off Turkey on Sunday, local authorities reported, announcing the launch of operations to rescue some 15 shipwrecked sailors.
“According to our information, about fifteen crew members are on board three lifeboats.
A relief operation will be launched, ”said the governor of Bartin province (northern Turkey), Sinan Güner.
"We have no information indicating dead [...] The weather conditions are bad and complicate the launch of relief operations, but we will still go out (at sea)", added Sinan Güner, quoted by the agency. state press Anadolu.
Bad weather
No other information was immediately available on the sinking of this ship described by the Turkish authorities as a bulk carrier.
The coast guard gave the Anadolu agency the name of Arvin, a freighter actually listed as being in the area by the Marinetraffic.com site.
Strong gusts of wind and snow showers were occurring on Sunday in the region where the ship sank, weather conditions likely to reduce visibility and complicate the maneuverability of the boats.
In January 2019, six sailors were killed in the sinking of a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship in the Black Sea off Turkey.
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In 2017, a Russian spy ship was wrecked in the Black Sea off Turkey after hitting a cattle boat.
All crew members had been rescued.
