- Turkey disabled a mine that was drifting in the Bosphorus Strait.
- The area was closed while authorities worked.
- Russia and Ukraine have been contacted about the mine.
The Turkish military disabled a mine that had drifted from the Black Sea, triggering a loud explosion in the process, days after Russia warned that several had been swept away from Ukrainian ports.
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On Saturday, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar described the object, first discovered by fishermen in the upper Bosphorus strait, as an old type of mine and said he was in contact with Russian authorities and Ukrainians on this.
The blast was heard north of Istanbul, an area where warships, military planes and helicopters were active.
Akar said in a televised statement:
The mine, deemed to be of an old type, has been neutralized by our team… and the naval forces are continuing their vigilance work.
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Maritime traffic was safely opened after coordination with the Turkish Coast Guard and Naval Forces, the minister added.
Earlier on Saturday, the Coast Guard said two-way marine traffic had been suspended after a civilian commercial vessel detected an object resembling a mine.
The Coast Guard had warned ships to stay clear of the round object floating on the waves, and a dive team moved in first to investigate.
Turkey shares the Black Sea borders with Russia and Ukraine, which Moscow invaded in February.
