Six people were killed after a Panama-flagged cargo ship reportedly carrying coal sent a distress signal while en route to Turkey, according to AP quoting government officials.
Six people have been killed after a Panama-flagged cargo ship sank while en route from Russia to Turkey, according to Associated Press quoting officials.
Thirteen crew members, including eleven Ukrainians, two Azerbaijan nationals were on board the Volgo Balt 214 vessel, according to the Samsun’s governors’ office.
The coast guard said they received a distress signal, which concerned a “possible sinking” of the ship.
The ship, which was reportedly carrying coal, departed from Russia’s Azov port and travelled through the Kerch Strait. It sent out a distress signal around 148 kilometres off the Black Sea province of Samsun.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey, Andreii Szbiha, wrote in a Tweet: "weather conditions drowned a commercial ship. Of 13 crew members, 11 were citizens of Ukraine. Appropriate measures were promptly taken by the security guard. Unfortunately, we failed to save 4 of our compatriots".
Seven members of the crew have been rescued so far as a search and rescue operation continues.