Mystery Blasts Rock Russia-Linked Oil Tankers Off Turkey’s Coast

Explosions rocked two tankers sanctioned for carrying Russian oil, the latest in a spate of blasts on such vessels, sparking a rescue operation off Turkey’s Black Sea coast.

The 900-foot Kairos was en route from Egypt to Russia when it suffered a blast and caught fire, according to Turkish authorities. Emergency response vessels managed to evacuate its 25 crew members. Meanwhile, the 820-foot Virat began spewing heavy smoke from its engine room after being hit at a point farther east along the coast. The 20 personnel on board were in good condition, authorities said.