Turkish cargo ship with 12 crew sinks in Black Sea

The region was hit by powerful storms on Sunday and the governor's office said the bad weather prevented air and sea vessels from carrying out searches.

By REUTERS

NOVEMBER 19, 2023 22:24

Updated: NOVEMBER 20, 2023 07:42

TURKEY’S SEISMIC research vessel ‘Oruc Reis’ is seen in Istanbul in August 2019. It recently left Greek waters where it had been sailing 200 km south of the island of Kastellorizo. (photo credit: REUTERS/MURAD SEZER) — TURKEY’S SEISMIC research vessel ‘Oruc Reis’ is seen in Istanbul in August 2019. It recently left Greek waters where it had been sailing 200 km south of the island of Kastellorizo.

(photo credit: REUTERS/MURAD SEZER)

A Turkish cargo ship with 12 crew onboard sank off Turkey's Black Sea coast during a storm on Sunday and authorities have been unable to make contact with the crew, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday.

The captain of the Turkish-flagged Kafkametler had reported on Sunday morning that the ship was drifting toward a breakwater off Eregli, in northwest Turkey's Zonguldak province, the provincial governor's office said earlier.

What caused the ship to sink?

Yerlikaya said the ship sunk after hitting the breakwater. The region was hit by powerful storms on Sunday and the governor's office said the bad weather prevented air and sea vessels from carrying out searches.