Cargo ship on fire near Sochi

A freighter has caught fire off Russia's southern seaport of Sochi. The ship is sailing under the flag of Sierra-Leone, West Africa.

According to Russia's Emergency Ministry, a car onboard caught fire which then spread, and several boats are trying to extinguish the blaze.

“Around 0630 local time there was a fire on the freight ship that was sailing under the flag of Sierra-Leone. It was transporting cars. One of them caught fire which then spread to the others. The freight was very close to the port of Sochi. Three rescue boats were immediately sent out. We have just found out that 31 passengers and crew members were rescued. We don't have yet any information that anyone was injured,” commented Oleg Grekov, Southern Emergency Ministry Centre.