At least three crew members are reported to have been saved after their cargo ship sank in the Black Sea near Turkey, but nine remain missing.

Eleven Ukrainians and one Russian were on board the Volgo Balt 199 when it went down in stormy seas off the town of Sile in Istanbul province.

Unconfirmed reports say one person has died.

Rescuers are attempting to reach a second ship, the BBC Adriatic, which is also having difficulty.

Fourteen crew members are said to be on board that boat, which television footage showed listing heavily in swollen seas.

The Volgo Balt 199, which was sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was transporting coal from Russia to the Turkish port of Antalya.

It is reported to have sent a distress signal at 07:30 GMT before contact was lost.

“We confirmed that the ship sank. Work continues to rescue 12 people on board,” Salih Orakci, head of the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, earlier told Turkish TV.

He said rescue boats and helicopters were involved in the search for Volgo Balt 199’s missing crew, and tug boats had been despatched to try to help the BBC Adriatic.

“The sea conditions are very rough which is making the rescue operation very difficult,” he said of the second ship. “[But] God willing, we will save that ship.”

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