At least two dead as cargo ship heading for Turkey sparks rescue mission

Two people have died and four have gone missing after a Panama-flagged cargo ship sent distress signals en route from Russia to Turkey, reported quoting the coast guard and a local governor's office.

Thirteen crew members, including nine Ukrainians, two Azerbaijan nationals, and two Russians, were on board, according to the Samsun's governors' office.

The coast guard said they received a distress signal, which concerned a "possible sinking" of the ship.

The ship, which was reportedly carrying coal, departed from Russia's Azov port and travelled through the Kerch Strait. It sent out a distress signal around 148 kilometres off the Black Sea province of Samsun.

Seven members of the crew have been rescued so far as a search and rescue operation continues.