At least six people were killed and 50 were reported missing after a Georgian cargo ship, packed with illegal immigrants and caught in stormy weather, ran into a reef and sank off the southern Turkish coast today.
It was not immediately known if the six dead were members of the crew or illegal immigrants.
Rescue operations were called off today due to strong winds and high seas.
Some 32 people were saved, said Mr Nazmi Gunlu, a police official at the Turkish resort of Kemer.
According to survivors, there were about 80 immigrants from India and Pakistan on board.
The ship, the Fati, which had set out from the Israeli port of Ashdod, docked at the southern Turkish port of Antalya on December 27th, on its way to the Greek port of Pyrea.
It was supposed to take on board a cargo of cement but had been unable to do so because of the combination of celebrations marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and bad weather.
AFP