ISTANBUL, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying explosive ordnance was discovered off Istanbul's Black Sea coast on Friday and later destroyed in a controlled blast offshore, local media reported.
Anglers spotted the UAV along the European-side Karaburun coast in the Arnavutkoy district and reported it to the Turkish Coast Guard, the Ihlas News Agency reported.
After inspecting the device and assessing that it carried explosive material, authorities deployed Underwater Defense commandos. The UAV was towed offshore and detonated in a controlled explosion, the agency said.
Muhammet Can Coban, head of the local lifeguard team, said the UAV was notably larger than those previously found in the area.
"I have never seen anything like this before," Coban told reporters, adding that the discovery had caused concern among fishermen and coastal visitors.
Mobile phone footage captured the explosion, showing smoke rising from the sea.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the UAV's origin or type.
The incident followed a series of similar incidents along Türkiye's Black Sea coast. Last week, a UAV was found off Duzce province's Akcakoca district, and another was recovered on the coast of Istanbul's Arnavutkoy district on Aug. 15. ■