10 seamen rescued off Turkey’s northern coast

Turkish coast guards rescued 10 people aboard a cargo ship that ran aground off Turkey's northern coast early yesterday.

Security officials said the stranded seamen were rescued via a helicopter as boats failed to reach the scene because of high waves near the northern coastal province of Samsun.

The "Gulf Rio" was en route from Ukraine but began to drift when one of its two anchors broke free in the early hours of yesterday morning, officials said earlier.

However, poor weather conditions hampered rescue efforts.

The seamen were said to be from Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Lithuania. They were taken to the provincial coastal security department after medical treatment.

The cargo vessel, which was carrying a shipment of soybeans, ran ashore as it was nearing the port in the Samsun province.