A ferry boat carrying about 150 people and 75 vehicles sank shortly after leaving the northwestern Turkish city of Bandirma for the Turkish largest city of Istanbul, killing one person and injuring 13 others, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Bandirma sub-governor Sali Keser was quoted as saying that Captain Mithat Altin of the Ro-Ro Boat gave the information that the boat sank soon after it left Bandirma Port and there were about 150 passengers on board.

Keser also said that the boat crew were rescued.

Meanwhile, Turkish Transport Ministry's Sea Transport Director General Ozkan Poyraz said that so far, 70 passengers have been rescued, the injured were sent to Guven State Hospital and Kapidag State Hospital for treatment.

The captain said the accident might have happened because of misplaced cargo.

Turkish civil defense teams, divers and local fishermen were mobilized to rescue the passengers who jumped in the sea after the accident, according to the report.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2008)