Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu has released official details regarding the tragic maritime collision that occurred earlier today off the coast of Silivri in the Sea of Marmara.
Sea-news.az reports that according to Minister Uraloglu, the captain of the merchant vessel Alsu radioed a report of a collision with another ship at 03:15 local time.
The Alsu reports a collision. An official distress call regarding the accident is logged, prompting the immediate dispatch of search and rescue teams. Highlighting the severity of the incident, the Minister stated that the stricken cargo vessel, Tugberk İmamoglu, sank rapidly in just 11 minutes.
Following the collision, the Main Search and Rescue Center attempted to establish radio and mobile communication with the crew of the Tugberk İmamoglu, but received no response to calls or telephone numbers.
“Unfortunately, no survivors have been reached among the individuals on board thus far,” Uraloglu stated, confirming that all 10 crew members aboard were Turkish citizens.
While the other vessel involved, the Alsu, sustained no visible structural damage, large-scale search and recovery operations by the Turkish Coast Guard and Directorate General of Coastal Safety remain active in the area.
