A ferry has sunk near the north-western Turkish port of Bandirma, leaving at least one person dead, officials say.
A ferry has sunk near the north-western Turkish port of Bandirma, leaving at least one person dead and five others missing, officials say.
The vessel is said to have carried some 100 people and more than 70 lorries to Istanbul, Turkish news agency report.
Officials said 89 of at least 95 people on board either swam to shore or were rescued by coast guards or fishing boats. One body has been recovered.
Civil defence teams, including divers and local fisherman, have been mobilised to rescue passengers from the Marmara Sea.
Military divers were searching for five others lost in the Marmara Sea.
At least 70 people were rescued, officials say, but about 30 others are still unaccounted for.
It is thought they may have been lorry drivers, who were sleeping in their vehicles when the ship went down.
Officials fear that some lorry drivers were asleep in their vehicles when the ferry sank.
Night-vision helicopters were sent to the area to assist the search and rescue operation.
'Like Titanic'
'Like Titanic'
The roll-on-roll-off ferry went down about 300m from the shore at about 2330 local time (2030 GMT).
The roll-on-roll-off ferry went down about 300m from the shore at about 2330 local time (2030 GMT) on Sunday night, shortly after leaving Bandirma for Istanbul.
"The vessel sank within half an hour... There is one dead," Bandirma Mayor Recep Eraydin told Turkey's NTV television.
"The vessel sank within half an hour... There is one dead," Bandirma Mayor Recep Eraydin told Turkey's NTV television.
Night-vision helicopters were sent to the area to assist the search and rescue operation.
At least 25 people were injured and taken to Bandirma's hospitals. The entire crew - nearly 30 people - were among the survivors.
At least 25 people were injured and taken to Bandirma's hospitals. The entire crew - nearly 30 people - were among the survivors.
"There was great panic and no-one was in a position to help others... It was just like the Titanic disaster," crewman Melih Erim was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"There was great panic and no-one was in a position to help others... It was just like the Titanic disaster," crewman Melih Erim was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
The captain of the ferry said misplaced cargo had probably caused the accident, the CNN-Turk news channel reported.
The captain of the ferry said misplaced cargo had probably caused the accident, the CNN-Turk news channel reported.
Other reports in Turkish media suggest that the vessel may have been overloaded.
Other reports in Turkish media suggest that the vessel may have been overloaded.
Do you know anyone on the ferry? Have you been affected by issues raised in this story?
Do you know anyone on the ferry? Have you been affected by issues raised in this story?
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