Deadly collision at sea off Turkish coast

Five people on board a Turkish fishing boat were killed after a collision with a Greek-flagged tanker off Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

Reports said a collision took place Wednesday early morning, before 6am, some 15 nautical miles off the coast of Karatas, Adana province, with the Turkish coast guard confirming the incident involved the Polatbey fishing boat and the Ephesus tanker.

A search-and-rescue operation including divers was launched shortly after radio contact with the boat had been lost.

Four bodies were initially recovered while a search for another individual was still ongoing in the morning. A fifth body was recovered later according to reports.

It was reported that the tanker was carrying 27 people, 13 of whom were described as Greeks. The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. 

Story has been updated with total number of bodies recovered

Son dakika | Adana Valiliği, Akdeniz'de Yunan tankeriyle çarpışan Türk balıkçı teknesindeki 5 kişiden 4'ünün cansız bedenine ulaşıldığını bildirdi. Allah rahmet eylesin. pic.twitter.com/tQR41N8Nn8

— Adanacity (@bizadanaliyik) November 11, 2020