Tanker veers off course and completely destroys an 18th century coastal manor in Istanbul after rudder locks and it crashes into the shore
This is the shocking moment a tanker crashed into an 18th century coastal mansion, causing heavy damage to the waterfront property.
The vessel, which had a Maltese flag, was carrying barley from Russia to Saudi Arabia when technical malfunctions caused it to veer off course and slam into the historic mansion on the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul.
The footage showed it smashing into the Hekimbasi Salih Efendi Mansion on the eastern shore before becoming stuck under the Second Bosphorus Bridge, BBC News reports.
The entire incident was filmed from multiple angles by onlookers, who later shared it on social media.
One video showed people fleeing in terror from a building next door to the mansion as the vessel sped towards them.
The crash happened shortly after 3pm local time on Saturday, after the large tanker called “Vitaspirit” entered the Bosphorus Strait from the Black Sea.
According to reports, the tanker was sailing through the narrow waterway that connects Europe and Asia and suddenly experienced engine and steering mechanism problems.
After losing control of the 225-metre vessel, the crew desperately tried to slow it down by throwing its anchor overboard, however they were unable to stop it smashing into the mansion.
The tanker was reportedly carrying 62 tons of barley.
The property 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.
Despite the horror crash, no casualties have been reported while the Bosphorus was closed to all traffic in both directions.
The Bosphorus is one of the world's most important choke points for maritime oil transports, with more than 3 percent of global supply - mainly from Russia and the Caspian Sea - passing through the 17-mile waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
It is also used by vessels carrying grain from Russia and Kazakhstan to international markets.
The vessel, which had a Maltese flag, was carrying barley from Russia to Saudi Arabia when technical malfunctions caused it to veer off course and slam into the historic mansion on the