Cargo ship carrying Azerbaijani crew runs aground in Russia's Don river

A cargo ship loaded with steel billets ran aground on the Don River in Russia's Rostov Oblast on its way from Rostov-on-Don to the Turkish port of Samsun, Report informs citing the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the region.

The incident occurred at 1:50 pm Moscow time when the Florica, a vessel sailing under the flag of Vanuatu, found itself stuck on a sandbar. The ship was carrying a crew of 14 Azerbaijani citizens, all of whom are reported to be safe and unharmed.

Local authorities have dispatched two tugboats to the scene to assist in refloating the grounded vessel. Officials have confirmed that the incident has not disrupted shipping traffic in the area.