A cargo ship sank Thursday morning in the Sea of Marmara, south of Istanbul, with six sailors on board, Turkish authorities announced.
This sea between the Mediterranean in the southwest and the Black Sea in the northeast is a strategic passage, particularly for the transit of Ukrainian cereals.
The 69-meter cargo ship, which was carrying dry goods, sent a distress signal shortly after 6:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. in Paris) while it was off the coast of the island of Imrali, located around fifty kilometers from the shores. south of Istanbul, the Turkish Transport Ministry said.
According to the authorities, the signal from the Turkish-flagged bulk carrier stopped transmitting at 7:12 a.m. (5:12 a.m. in Paris).
Three Turkish coast guard boats were dispatched to the area, without being able to locate the bulk carrier, Turkish authorities said.
An empty life raft was found nearby, the ministry said.