ISTANBUL, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two Turkish-flagged ships collided in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul early Wednesday, leaving 10 crew members missing, Turkish authorities said.
According to the Istanbul Governor's Office, the incident occurred at around 3:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) when a cargo ship collided with a tanker.
The cargo ship Tugberk Imamoglu is believed to have sunk in waters about 800 to 900 meters deep, while search and rescue operations are continuing, according to the office.
The incident involved the tanker Alsu, which was traveling from the northwestern province of Kocaeli to Aliaga district in Izmir province, and the cargo ship, which was sailing from the southern port of Iskenderun to Karadeniz Eregli on Türkiye's Black Sea coast.
Tugberk Imamoglu, which was carrying 4,199 tons of coiled steel, failed to respond to calls, and none of its crew members could be reached by phone, local authorities said.
The tanker was found to be empty at the time of the collision and sustained no visible damage, according to authorities.
A total of 14 maritime search and rescue units and two helicopters are taking part in the operation, according to the statement. ■
