Turkey: Cargo ship missing after collision off Istanbul coast

Turkish authorities are actively searching for ten crew members aboard a cargo ship that sank following a collision with another vessel off the Istanbul coast early Wednesday. The tugboat Tugberk Imamoglu and the chemical tanker Alsu collided around 3 a.m. local time near the city's western Silivri district. The Transport Ministry's maritime directorate confirmed that the Tugberk Imamoglu, an 90-meter Turkish-flagged bulk carrier carrying 4,200 tons of rolled steel, has sunk in waters approximately 900 meters deep.

The collision occurred while the Tugberk Imamoglu was en route to the Black Sea port of Eregli from Iskenderun. The 91-meter Turkish-flagged Alsu, which was empty and not damaged at the time of the accident, is believed to have sailed from Kocaeli east of Istanbul to the Aegean port of Aliaga. No crew members have been found alive, and attempts to contact them via mobile phone have been unsuccessful. Two helicopters and 12 search and rescue vessels are currently scouring the area.