Two Turkish-flagged cargo ships collided in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul early Wednesday, prompting a search and rescue operation for 10 crew members who authorities cannot currently contact.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office said the collision occurred at around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 2, approximately 18 miles south of Silivri.
Coast Guard vessels and helicopters rushed to the area after the collision. According to the authorities, one of the two ships has sunk, while the other showed no visible damage.
The vessels involved were the Alsu, which was sailing from Kocaeli to Aliaga, and the Tugberk Imamoglu, which was travelling from the port of Iskenderun towards Karadeniz Ereğli.
10 crew members cannot be contacted
Turkish authorities said they have so far failed to establish contact with the Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office said numerous Coast Guard vessels, including units from the Marmara and Bosphorus Command, along with a Coast Guard helicopter, had deployed to the scene.
The authorities have not yet clarified what cargo the Tugberk Imamoglu carried. The vessel was crossing the Marmara Sea towards the Black Sea when the collision occurred.
Search and rescue teams remain at the scene as authorities work to establish the whereabouts of the 10 crew members.
