Tanker Explosion Sparks Emergency North of Bosphorus

A tanker, sailing under the Gambian flag, experienced an explosion and fire in its engine room in the Black Sea, north of Turkey's Bosphorus strait. The ship might have struck a mine, endangering it. Rescue teams are on site, while shipping traffic through the strait continues.

An explosion and fire erupted in the engine room of a tanker named Kairos, sailing under the Gambian flag, in the Black Sea north of Turkey's Bosphorus strait, a shipping agency Tribeca announced on Friday.

The vessel, which was in ballast and approximately 52 miles away from the Bosphorus, likely struck a mine and might be at risk of sinking. In response, rescue tugboats and coast guard units were swiftly deployed to the scene.

Despite the incident, shipping traffic through the critical strait remains uninterrupted, according to earlier reports from the agency.

(With inputs from agencies.)