A cargo ship sank off Turkey’s Black Sea coast near the northern province of Bartin on Sunday, leaving at least three people dead and several stranded in lifeboats, according to Turkish state media.
Emergency workers have rescued at least six crew members from the ship, the Arvin, according to Sinan Guner, the governor of Bartin, who was quoted by the state-owned Anadolu Agency. Helicopters were dispatched to help with the efforts, Mr. Guner said.
Civilian ships had been asked to help with rescue efforts near the Inkumu district, Mr. Guner said, but the operation was complicated by bad weather, with workers waiting for winds to subside before seeking to rescue more survivors. The Defense Ministry also said that it had dispatched a vessel to help evacuation efforts, local media reported.
The ship had at least 12 crew members aboard and had been bound for the port of Burgas in Bulgaria, Anadolu said, citing the Turkish Transport Ministry. It had left Poti, Georgia, days earlier.
The ship flew the flag of Palau and was Ukrainian-owned, local media reported. The crew consisted of 10 Ukrainians and two Russians, The Associated Press reported, citing the Transport Ministry.
The ministry said the ship was anchored in the port of Bartin on Friday because of bad weather.
Video shared by the Anadolu Agency showed the ship, visible from a beach, being rocked by waves.
