An ungrounded mine was detected and then deactivated at the entrance to the Bosphorus strait

An ungrounded mine was detected and then deactivated at the entrance to the Bosphorus strait

Today, Saturday, Turkish media reported that a mine was discovered that broke its mooring and was carried by waves at the entrance to the Black Sea side of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul. According to the private Turkish NTV channel, a fisherman who saw the mine two kilometers from Rumelevneri Street, north of Istanbul, alerted the authorities on Saturday morning. “We found it was an old mine. The Special Operations Unit took her to a safe place and disabled herTurkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said.

Ankara has spoken with the Ukrainian and Russian authorities and continues toCoordination with them in this regardThe minister added. “There are currently no obstacles to maritime transport‘, he confirmed.

According to the Turkish private NTV channel, a fisherman who saw the mine two kilometers from Rumelifeneri, north of Istanbul, reported to the authorities on Saturday morning. “Turkish Navy’s special operations units have been dispatched to the scene”, on the Twitter account of the Turkish Ministry of Defense. Turkish media reported that boats moored nearby were turned away and the Bosporus was temporarily closed to sea traffic.

According to NTV, the discovered mine will contain 30 kg of explosives and will be an old Russian-made mine. This week, Turkish authorities warned of the dangers of mines off the Ukrainian coast that could have been untied by a storm, by posting a message on the Naval Warning System NAVTEX. “These mines can drift into the sea and pose a dangerTurkish Navy.

READ  Chancellor Sebastian Kurz targeted in corruption investigations

Underwater mines must be equipped with systems that render them harmless if not tied up, according to the 1907 Hague Convention. But older mines may lack such systems and pose a risk, according to Turkish media.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *