Two Turkish-flagged cargo ships collide off Istanbul coast

Turkish authorities have reported a collision between two cargo ships off the coast of Istanbul.

According to a brief statement from the Istanbul Governor’s Office, two Turkish-flagged cargo vessels collided in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul. The statement added that authorities have been unable to contact ten crew members from one of the ships, according to Al Arabiya.

The governor’s office said that coast guard vessels and helicopters were dispatched to the scene to conduct search and rescue operations, noting that no visible damage was observed on one of the ships.

The cause of the collision and further details about the incident have not yet been determined. Similar incidents have previously occurred in the Sea of Marmara in recent years.

Maritime experts often attribute such accidents to heavy ship traffic, numerous anchorage and waiting areas, as well as complex weather conditions and sea currents in the region.