Tanker crashes into historic mansion

A TANKER crashed into a historic mansion on the shores of İstanbul’s Bosphorus Strait last Saturday after its steering equipment became locked, broadcaster CNN Türk said, adding that traffic in the strait had been suspended in both directions.

Tugs and coastguard vessels were sent to the area after the crash and the Vitaspirit tanker, flying a Maltese flag, was pulled back from the crash site and brought to shore, CNN Türk said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but footage from the crash showed extensive damage to the historic seaside mansion located under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge, one of the three crossings between İstanbul’s Asian and European sides.

The Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi Mansion has stood on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait since the 18th century and is used to host weddings and concerts, according to the mansion’s website.