ROME, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Two vessels collided in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy, causing two passengers to drown and others to go missing, according to the Italian coast guard.
The incident is separate from another episode in the same waters, where a ferry caught fire off the Greek coast in the Adriatic Sea, prompting a joint Italian-Greek rescue operation early Sunday.
The two collided vessels were merchant ships from Turkey and Belize, respectively. They struck each other in poor visibility one mile from the Italian port of Ravenna, sinking the Turkish ship, coast guard officials said, according to Al Jazeera.
Four members out of 11 from the Turkish ship have been pulled from the water, while two drowned. Searchers have located four more and are continuing rescue efforts.
The cause of the collision remains unknown.
At least 150 passengers had been saved from the burning Italian-flagged ferry Norman Atlantic by early Sunday, while 250 passengers remained on board. At least one man died after jumping from the blazing ship.
Italian navy and coast guard spokesmen noted that both rescue operations were being complicated by rough waters.
