Four Ukrainian citizens died today when a cargo vessel sank off Turkey’s Black Sea coast, Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey Andrii Sybiha said.
Thirteen crew members were on the bulk carrier including nine Ukraine nationals, two Azerbaijan nationals and two Russians, the Samsun governor’s office said. But the Russian embassy in Turkey denied that there were Russians onboard.
The Panama-flagged vessel, which departed from Russia’s Azov port, sent out a distress signal around 148 kilometers off the northeastern Black Sea province of Samsun, the coast guard said, Reuters wrote earlier.
The coast guard said the distress signal was received regarding a "possible sinking" of the ship. According to Reuters, seven members of the crew had been rescued so far while a search and rescue operation continued for the other four using a plane, two helicopters and two boats.
