Two tanker ship explosions... Suspicion of external interference

A fire broke out following an explosion on the tanker ship named "KAIROS," which was en route to the Port of Novorossiysk in Russia, off the coast of Kefken in the Kandıra district of Kocaeli. The incident occurred 28 miles offshore in the Black Sea while the ship was traveling from Egypt to Russia. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced that the 25 crew members on board had been evacuated.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER: SUSPICION OF EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated in his remarks that initial information regarding the incident points to the possibility of external interference. Minister Uraloğlu said, "Explosions are occurring on the ship from time to time; it is suspected that there was external interference," without providing a definitive explanation as to whether it was an attack or an explosion. Furthermore, Minister Uraloğlu stated that relevant institutions (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Organization) are continuing to examine the situation in a coordinated manner.

RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION

Following the rapid arrival of Coastal Safety and Coast Guard teams at the scene, the crew on board the ship was evacuated. The Ministry of Transport's KEGM-9 and KEGM-10 fast rescue boats, the KURTARMA-12 tugboat, and the NENE HATUN Emergency Response Vessel were dispatched to the ship. The ship's crew was safely evacuated via the KEGM-10 boat and brought to Kefken Port.

CAUSE OF FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS YET TO BE DETERMINED

In a statement made by the Kocaeli Governor's Office, it was expressed that the cause of the fire that broke out on the ship following the explosions has not yet been determined, but that the health status of the crew is good. The 25 sailors on board were brought to Kefken Port to be checked by medical teams. The Coast Guard Command, Coastal Safety, and UMKE teams had been rapidly dispatched to the region to intervene in the incident.

Following the incident in Kefken, another tanker named "VIRAT" in the Black Sea was also hit as a result of an explosion. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced that rescue teams were also dispatched for the VIRAT tanker. The ship issued a distress call after heavy smoke was detected in its engine room, approximately 35 nautical miles offshore. It was stated that the 20 crew members on board are in good condition.

LAST MESSAGES SENT BY THE SHIPS

Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş made statements following the incident. Governor Aktaş reported that both ships were flying foreign flags and that the health status of the crews is good. It was also stated that no cases of injury were encountered.

News Source: 12punto