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.
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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.