Cargo ship sinks after collision off Istanbul; 10 crew missing

Turkish authorities are currently searching for the 10 crew members aboard a cargo ship that tragically sank in the Marmara Sea near Istanbul. The incident occurred early Wednesday after a collision between two vessels, as confirmed by Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu. All crew members were identified as Turkish nationals, and efforts to contact them via mobile phone have been unsuccessful so far.

The collision between the tugboat Tugberk Imamoglu and the chemical tanker Alsu took place at approximately 3 a.m. local time off the city's western Silivri district. Rescuers, including two helicopters and 12 search and rescue vessels, are actively scouring the area for survivors. Life-saving equipment, including a lifeboat from the Tugberk Imamoglu, has been found floating on the surface, but the crew members are not on board.

The 90-meter Turkish-flagged bulk carrier Tugberk Imamoglu was en route from Iskenderun to the Black Sea port of Eregli when the collision occurred. It was carrying 4,200 tons of rolled steel. Meanwhile, the 91-meter Turkish-flagged Alsu, which was sailing from Kocaeli to the Aegean port of Aliaga, was empty at the time of the incident and did not sustain any damage.

The Sea of Marmara, where the incident took place, is a crucial shipping corridor connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.