Two Shadow Fleet Tankers Explode in Black Sea Near Turkey

Two Russian shadow fleet tankers suffered explosions and caught fire in the Black Sea near Turkey's coast on Friday, prompting swift rescue operations by Turkish authorities, with all crew members safely evacuated or accounted for.

The first incident involved the Gambian-flagged tanker Kairos, which was traveling empty toward Russia's Novorossiysk port when it reported an explosion approximately 28 nautical miles off the coast of Turkey's Kocaeli province. Turkey's Directorate General of Maritime Affairs attributed the blaze to an external impact, though details were not immediately specified. Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu told reporters that initial assessments pointed to a possible mine strike, based on information from the vessel. Rescue teams from the Coast Guard reached the site quickly, evacuating all 25 crew members, most of whom were Chinese nationals. Kocaeli Governor Ilhami Aktas confirmed the crew's safety and noted that firefighting efforts were ongoing, with thick smoke visible from the vessel. "A large fire is taking place," Aktas said, adding that authorities would provide more details after completing their inquiries.