14 rescued after Russian cargo ship sinks off Spain's coast

Fourteen crew members were rescued after the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank off Spain’s coast following an explosion in its engine room. Two crew members are missing, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation as investigations continue.

As many as 14 people were rescued after a Russian cargo ship sank off Spain’s coast following an explosion in the engine room, the Situation and Crisis Centre of the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major (owned by SK-YUG LLC) sank in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion in the engine room. Of the 16 crew members (citizens of the Russian Federation), 14 people were rescued (taken by the rescue service to the port of Cartagena, Murcia), two went missing," the centre said on Telegram.

The Russian Ministry of Transport and diplomatic missions are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to provide all necessary assistance, it added.

Separately, Spanish media reported that a Russian vessel shipwrecked in international waters between the Spanish autonomous community of Murcia and Algeria.

The ship is said to have left St. Petersburg about two weeks ago and was heading to the port of Vladivostok, where it was supposed to arrive on 22 January.

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