ANKARA: A tanker crashed into a historic mansion on the shores of Istanbul’s Bosphorus after its steering equipment became locked, broadcaster CNN Turk said, adding that traffic in the strait had been suspended in both directions.
According to media reports, towboats and coast guard vessels were sent to the area after the crash and the “Vitaspirit” tanker, carrying a Maltese flag, was pulled back from the crash site and brought to shore.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but footage from the crash showed extensive damage to the historic seaside mansion located under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge, one of the three crossings between Istanbul’s Asian and European sides.
It is also used by vessels carrying grain from Russia and Kazakhstan to international markets.
